As his daughter, Amanda, and many others will describe him, John R. Paine has been, is, and always will be “larger than life.”
He graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction and quickly launched into an intense and diverse business career in which he seemed to naturally excel.
He began his career in commercial construction, and diversified into transportation, distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, consumer products, and plastics. Eventually he moved into telephony, consumer and business finance, and internet technologies. He served as the President and CEO of Providence Interactive Capital, LLC, a private equity investment firm. John was also CEO of Excelco Technologies, a technology service and consulting company. He further served as Chairman of the Board of Cheap Caribbean.com, one of the largest online travel agencies to the Caribbean and Mexico.
Longtime friend and colleague AC Musgrave confirms, “If I had a hall of fame of businessmen – and I’ve been blessed to have that. I know people that are very wealthy, very sharp, very astute. I would put John right at the very top of any of them.”
Outside of the office John enjoyed embracing the adventure of life with his wife, Margaret, and their four children. Whether it was skiing, scuba diving, or hunting, John never missed an opportunity to involve the entire family in his excitement and enthusiasm for experience.
In 2000, John – a regular jogger and weight-lifter – noticed a peculiar twitching and muscle loss in his arm. A series of tests determined he had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) – a diagnosis that came with shock, disbelief, anger and many questions for not only John, but his family, friends and colleagues.
Yet in the midst of such a devastating diagnosis, John began to discover some of his greatest passions, deepest relationships and strongest faith. His story has inspired and challenged those close to him and those he meets to not just endure life’s difficulties but to lean into and embrace them.
Learn why John Paine calls himself the luckiest man.
