John Joseph Campion facts for kids
John Joseph Campion (born January 17, 1963 – died October 2, 2020) was a very successful Irish-American businessman. In 1987, he started a company called Showpower, Inc. This company provided powerful portable generators for huge music bands like The Rolling Stones, U2, Kiss, and AC/DC. Later, Campion became the leader of a company called APR Energy.
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Early Life and Big Dreams
John Campion was born in Cork, Ireland. He had a tough time in school, even failing some exams and not going to college. But that didn't stop him! When he was 21, he moved to the United States. He only had an airline ticket and $25 in his pocket. This shows how determined he was to make a new life.
Bringing Power to the World
Quick Electricity After Disasters
John Campion led APR Energy, a company that did amazing things. They specialized in setting up power plants very quickly. These plants were sent to places that had been hit by natural disasters. They also helped areas that didn't have enough electricity.
Fast Power Plants for Communities
APR Energy's power plants were built in parts, like giant LEGO sets. This meant they could be put together in just a few months. Campion even had special inventions, called patents, for this technology. For example, after a big earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, APR Energy built a power plant in only 45 days. Normally, a permanent power plant would take three to four years to build!
Helping Countries with Energy Needs
Another time, APR Energy set up a power plant in Cyprus in less than a month. This plant could make enough electricity to power about 120,000 American homes. The company also worked on projects in many other countries. These included Uruguay, Yemen, Senegal, Argentina, Libya, and Botswana. APR Energy won many awards for their clever technology.
Growing a Big Business
From the very beginning, APR Energy grew incredibly fast. It started with no money coming in. By 2014, it was making $486 million in sales. The company employed over 150 people in Jacksonville and more than 850 people around the world. In 2014, the company was worth an amazing $1.2 billion. John Campion, who started APR Energy, stepped down as CEO in May 2019. He then became the non-executive chairman for the company's board.
John Campion's Amazing Car Collection
John Campion loved cars, especially Lancias! He collected many special cars. His collection included seven models that had raced in the famous World Rally Championship (WRC). These were super fast cars that competed in tough races around the world.
Some of his cool rally cars included:
- A 1969 Lancia Fulvia that won a big race in 1972.
- A 1975 Lancia Stratos that won several races in the late 1970s.
- A 1983 Lancia 037 Evo 2 that raced almost two dozen times. It even won first place in a race in 1985!
- A 1985 Lancia Delta S4 that was used to test for World Rally Championship races.
- A 1988 Lancia Delta Integrale that won two big races in 1988.
His Lancia cars were even shown at a fancy car show in Florida in 2015. John Campion's full car collection also had other famous brands like Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, and Porsches.
Helping Others: John Campion's Giving Spirit
John Campion was very generous and loved to help others. He helped create Team Ireland. This program supports young drivers in exciting sports like rallying, racing, and karting. He wanted to help them achieve their dreams.
He also supported the University of North Florida’s Osprey SAE Student Race Team. He gave them money and advice in 2015 and 2016. Campion was also part of a group called Just a Bunch of Roadies (JABOR). This group helps people around the world. After the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, he donated fuel, trucks, and people to help with relief efforts. John Campion also served on the board of The Catholic University of America. He helped students there with their development.
His Passing
John Campion sadly passed away from leukemia on October 2, 2020. He was 57 years old.
Awards and Special Recognition
John Campion received many awards for his hard work and achievements:
- 2017: An honorary degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Florida.
- 2016: The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, a very special award for Americans who have made great contributions.
- 2014: Named "Ultimate CEO" by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
- 2014: Won "Innovation of the Year" from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
- 2014: His company's Oman Power & Water Project won a MEED Quality Award.
- 2014: APR Energy's Fast-Track Power Plant was recognized by Asian Power.
Images for kids
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Inaugural Participants on Team Ireland Photo: Peter Houlihan
