Archie Campbell, born in Bulls Gap on Nov. 7, 1914, built a long entertainment career as a comedian, singer, painter, golfer, television host, scriptwriter, businessman, and raconteur. Before becoming principally remembered for his roles on "Hee Haw," he studied art at Mars Hill College near Asheville, North Carolina, from 1932 until 1933, hoboed through Alabama as a "strolling" musician, and worked in medicine shows. Broke, he arrived in Knoxville in 1936 and joined WNOX's "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round," where Lowell Blanchard encouraged him to add comedy to his singing act, leading to the creation of his "Grandpappy" character. After also working as a sign-painter, he left in 1937 for radio jobs in Bristol and Chattanooga, remaining there until he joined the Navy in 1942. After the Second World War, he returned to Knoxville, where he resumed work on the "Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round" and later moved to WROL's noon-hour "Dinner Bell" show, where Flatt and Scruggs were regular guests. In 1949 he made his first recordings as Archie Campbell and His Oldtimers for Mercury Records, and in 1952 he began hosting Knoxville's first country music television show, "Country Playhouse," on WROL-TV, later WATE-TV. The following year he co-founded Knoxville's first independent record label, Valley, and his record "Blue Memories" became its debut release. In 1958 he joined the Grand Ole Opry as a comedian, dropped the "Grandpappy" character, and developed the mischievous, cigar-chomping wisecracker persona that drew comparisons to George Burns and Will Rogers; Chet Atkins later signed him to RCA, and his best-known record, "Trouble in the Amen Corner," appeared in 1960. When "Hee Haw" began in 1969, Campbell became an on-air comedian and one of the two original writers, remaining a regular until 1987. His recurring roles included "The Barber," "Doctor Campbell," and "Justus O'Peace," and he became especially associated with spoonerisms such as turning "Cinderella" into "Rindercella" and "Three Little Pigs" into "Pee Little Thrigs," as well as with the routine "That's good, that's bad" and the recurring use of "Pfft, You Were Gone." "Hee Haw" made him a household name, and he also pursued other television concepts, recorded comedy albums including Bull Session at Bulls Gap with Junior Samples, and continued painting prolifically. He died in Knoxville on Aug. 29, 1987.