Birth:
April 13, 1933, inn Auburn, California, his Mother, Mary Vierra, was a Portuguese immigrant, and his father, Albert Campbell, was a Northern Cheyenne Indian.Foster Care Experience:
Ben's father was addicted to alcohol and would be gone for weeks and months at a time; he eventually deserted the family. Ben's mother contracted tuberculosis, because of their mother's illness, Ben and his sister lived much of their young lives in orphanages. They could never get physically close to their mother due to the contagious nature of the disease.Claim to Fame:
Not only a past member of the U.S. Olympic Team, but a U.S. Senator for the state of Colorado since 1992. He was the first American Indian to be elected to the Senate in 60 years.Fun Facts:
In college he was the youngest person in the United States to hold the fourth degree black belt in Judo. He traveled to Japan to further study with judo masters and participated in the 1964 Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team. Ben has also received more than 200 first-place and best-of-show awards for his jewelry designs.Quote:
“Sometimes when I ride up on my motorcycle (a Harley) and park it next to all the big town cars, they (colleagues in the U.S. Senate) look at me a little strangely. But then one of ‘em will come up to me and whisper “Gee, I’d like to get one of those, too.’”Back to Famous Foster Kids Index.
