Jim Campbell was an outstanding athlete for the Tigers, competing in baseball and football. He earned three varsity letters in football and two in baseball. Jim was an outside linebacker on the 1966 team that competed for the City of Dayton Championship, and an integral member of a defense that gave up an average of 9.5 points per game.
City Champ, Belmont, beat the Tigers in 1966 by a score of 6-0, a game in which Stivers outplayed Belmont. Jim and the other outside linebacker, Tommy Mantia, were labeled “Midget Monsters” by Dayton Daily News writer Marty Williams. They were small in stature, but tenaciously fierce competitors.
Both Jim and Tommy were named to the All-Public League Second Team Defense in 1966. In 1967, Jim had another outstanding year, but the team was in a rebuilding mode from the loss of so many graduates from the previous season. Stivers had graduated both lines and the three top offensive players from the 1966 team.
Jim played both ways in 1967, and had some offensive heroics to complement his excellent defensive play. He caught a 69 yard pass from Matt Dawicke in the second half to beat Wilmington 12-0.
Jim was honored to escort Homecoming Queen, Barbara Gwin, and then, with Carolyn Pinney, to be named Mr. and Miss Stivers. In 1968, Jim received the Dr. Urban H. Boll Award for being an “outstanding gentleman, scholar, and athlete.” Dr. Boll was a former Stivers football, basketball, and track athlete that led St. Mary’s, now UD, to an undefeated basketball season in 1910-1911 with big wins over Notre Dame and Ohio State.
After high school, Jim went to work for G.M. and retired there after 31 years.
He and his wife, Shellie, live in Kettering and have five children, Carri, Casey, Sarah, Jamie, and James Jr. Daughter, Carrie, was an All-American soccer star at Carroll High and Findlay College.