USHLI Board Member, Bob Campos, Honored by City of Omaha

Bob Campos, a lifelong resident of Omaha, NE and community leader, was recently honored by the City of Omaha.  The Mayor of Omaha, Jim Suttle, presided over the dedication of the Bob Campos Soccer Complex.  At the dedication, Mayor Suttle said "Bob thank you for using your time and talents to make Omaha a better city, a strong city for all. Your commitment to our community as a business leader and philanthropist is second to none. The very grass we stand on would not be here today without you.  We are all indebted to you."

 

Bob, affectionately referred to by many in local government as "the Prince of Omaha", has been a long-time supporter of youth sports, especially baseball and soccer.  Several years ago Gross Catholic High School's baseball park was named, "Campos Baseball Field" for his many years of support in providing opportunities for young people to excel in the classroom and athletic field.   Bob attended Omaha South High and a plaque bears his name in the school's "Hall of Fame".  Bob was moved by the dedication but repeated what he is always known to say, "It's all about the kids.  It's all about making sure that our children are safe, have a place to play, have access to a good education, and have an equal opportunity to succeed in life and career."   

Bob retired as President of Campos Construction in 2000.  A very successful businessman, he was honored at the White House by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1983, and was later named "Small Businessman of the Year" and honored by then-President George Bush in 1986 and again in 1990.  He worked on many projects throughout his career, but being selected to restore the homes of Abraham Lincoln, Herbert Hoover, and Harry S Truman was especially significant.  He was also selected in 1995 to be one of the builders of the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha. 

Bob has been involved with USHLI for over 25 years and for 20 years organized our Grassroots Leadership Development Program through which over 400 Latinos in Omaha learned more about how city, county, and school governments work, and in the process, helped educate elected and appointed officials on how to better serve the Latino community.  In 1992 he received USHLI's "Willie Velasquez Volunteer of the Year Award".  In 2001 he received the Ohtli Award from the Consul General of Mexico in Omaha for his service to the community.  He was elected to the USHLI Board of Directors in 2007.