UP CLOSE -- John Collins

-- Compiled by Torus Tammer, photo by xxxx

* FAMILY STATUS: Married for 32 years to Barbara, with three children and

one grandchild

* AGE: 56

* EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from

Northeastern University in Boston.

* PAST OFFICES HELD: Mayor of Fountain Valley in 1994, 1997 and 1999;

president of Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce; chairman of the board

of directors, Orange County Sanitation District; president of the

Southwest Community Center; and many other positions with community

organizations

* PRESENT OCCUPATION: I have two main occupations: Pioneer Business Corp.

as a business broker and appraiser, and Childhelp USA, as a child abuse

prevention program coordinator. Also, I’m a councilman in Fountain

Valley.

* YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Raising, along with my wife, three wonderful

children

* PERSONAL MOTTO: We make a living by what we earn. We make a life by

what we give.

* MOST HUMBLING MOMENT: Holding our firstborn child a few moments after

his birth and realizing that God, my wife and I had created a life.

* YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE: Eating chocolate chip cookies

* MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU’VE READ: There are many of them, but most

recently I read “Meditations from a Simple Path,” by Mother Teresa.

* WHAT CASSETTE OR COMPACT DISC IS IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW? Jerry Vale’s

all-time greatest hits

* YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: Family

* WHAT CAN YOU COOK? Anything I can poke holes in and heat on high for

three minutes

* A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CONTROL: Eating chocolate chip cookies

* THE COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST CHOSE: Catholic seminary for priesthood

* YOUR LAST CHARITABLE ACT: Feeding homeless people at the Southwest

Community Center in Santa Ana on the Saturday before last

* AS A CHILD, WHAT DID SCHOOLMATES TEASE YOU ABOUT? Always working

* WHAT IS IN YOUR CAR TRUNK RIGHT NOW? Clothing that Laurann Cook gave me

to take to the Southwest Community Center

* WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Most industrious

* WHO ARE YOUR HEROES? My parents -- for not only saying the right things

over the years, but also living their lives as examples of outstanding

character and integrity

* FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: Laughlin/Lake Mohave, Nev.

* ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD IF YOU COULD: Child abuse

* YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: Mowing the lawn

* WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE? Too heavy

* I HAVE A DREAM THAT: All people will live their lives according to a

common message consistent in most religions: “To love God and love thy

neighbor.”

* PHONE OR ADDRESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU: 593-4403