Campbell, Ben Nighthorse, 1933-

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born Benny Marshall Campbell, April 13, 1933, Auburn, California) is an American politician. He was a three-term U.S. Representative from Colorado's 3rd district, serving from 1987 to 1993 and a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005. Initially a Democrat, he became a Republican in 1995. Campbell also serves as one of forty-four members of the Council of Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe.

Born Benny Campbell in Auburn, California, he attended Placer High School, dropping out in 1951 to join the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Korea during the Korean War as an air policeman; he left the Air Force in 1953 with the rank of Airman Second Class, as well as the Korean Service Medal and the Air Medal. While in the Air Force, Campbell obtained his GED and, following his discharge, used his G.I. Bill to attend San Jose State University, where he graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Fine Arts. While in college, Campbell was a member of the San Jose State judo team, coached by future USA Olympic coach Yosh Uchida. While training for the Olympic Games, Campbell attended Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan as a special research student from 1960–1964. In 1964, Campbell competed in judo at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the first Native American on the United States Olympic Judo Team.

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