Former South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell Dies at 65

Former Congressman and South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell, died of a heart attack at 8:49 this morning after a long bout with Alzheimer’s. He was 65.

Carroll Campbell dead at 65 (Charleston Post and Courier)

Former Gov. Carroll Campbell, one of the most beloved politicians in South Carolina history, died of a heart attack at 8:49 a.m. today. He was 65.

Campbell, who has battled Alzheimer’s disease for six years, was moved in August to a residential care facility at Lexington Medical Center near Columbia. The facility’s staff found the governor in his bed at 7:50 a.m. and it appeared he was not breathing. An ambulance arrived at 8 a.m. and EMS workers tried to resuscitate Campbell. He arrived at the adjacent Lexington Medical Hospital 45 minutes later, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Todd Crump.

At 10:50 a.m., Former President George Herbert Walker Bush, a close family friend, called to offer his condolences.

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Campbell grew up in Greenville and served as a congressman for eight years before becoming only the second Republican to be elected governor of South Carolina since reconstruction. His legacy not only includes strengthening the state’s GOP but also luring the German automaker BMW to the Upstate and restructuring state government.

Campbell, who has been battling Alzheimer’s disease for six years, was moved from his Georgetown County home into a residential care facility in early August. He was at the Carroll Campbell Place, an Alzheimer’s care center, at Lexington Medical Center.

Jeff Quinton has more details and a roundup of other coverage.

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