NATCHEZ — Last week Adams County Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell received the NAACP’s Medgar Evers Award.

But the award wasn’t one Campbell won — it was one he had to earn.

The award celebrates the life of slain Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers and is given to an individual as recognition for their advancement of Civil Rights Movement.

It is highest award that can be given by a local chapter of the NAACP.

And for some, no one is more deserving than Campbell.

Campbell began earning his award in the early 1960s at a Civil Rights demonstration in Natchez.

“(Police) told us we could either disband or go to jail,” Campbell. “We went to jail.”

But Campbell and as many as 150 others didn’t end up in the county or city jail.

The were bussed to the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.

“It was horrible,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish any of that on my worst enemy. It was completely inhumane.”

And the scene Campbell described at the prison sounds like something from a movie.

“We were all stripped naked and hosed down,” he said.

Then, naked, up to 10 men were crammed into cells and left without clothes or food.

But the prison wasn’t totally without offerings.

Campbell said the men were given Castor Oil, to induce diarrhea.

“It’s was a nightmare,” he said.

The men weren’t fed for two days, and when they were it was only cold grits.

Campbell and several of his friends were left in prison for a week before they were released.

The Rev. Clifton Marvel has known Campbell since childhood and is currently the vice president of the local chapter of the NAACP.

“He paid the price during the struggle,” Marvel said. “It’s that simple.”

Campbell said while he never let the experience put hatred in his heart, for some the ordeal was too much to deal with.

Campbell said many of those he was with in the prison needed medical attention after they were released.

But Campbell wasn’t held back.

And years later he went on to join the Natchez Police Department.

The very same department that jailed him during the demonstration.

Campbell said in those days, while there was overt racism on the force, he still used his position to help people.

“I want to be able to help people,” he said. “I’m a servant.”

And Campbell’s service has gone on long past his career with the NPD.

He’s also the longest serving member on the Adams County Board of Supervisors with more than 20 years experience.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said he just feels honored to be able to sit with Campbell on the board.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” he said. “It’s almost euphoric to be around that type of person.”