Don Bacon: “Today I rise to recognize two Hispanic trailblazers in Omaha--Robert, known as Bob, Campos and Dr. James, known as Jim…”

“Today I rise to recognize two Hispanic trailblazers in Omaha--Robert, known as Bob, Campos and Dr. James, known as Jim, Ramirez--for their generous contributions to our community. After growing up together in the same working-class South Omaha neighborhood, Bob and Jim each went on to lead extraordinary, successful lives, and they have made a huge difference in our community. Bob Campos was born in 1938 to Mexican immigrant parents in South Omaha, a neighborhood long regarded as a melting pot of multicultural immigrant families. Growing up, his large family shared only a one- bedroom home. So when Bob was only 8 years old, he went to work at the neighborhood grocery store to earn some extra income for his family. At 16 years old, Campos dropped out of high school and attempted to enlist in the United States Marines but was unsuccessful after falsifying his age in his application. Shortly after that, he fulfilled his desire to serve his country by joining the U.S. Coast Guard. After his military service, Bob moved back to Omaha and worked at the Kiewit Construction Company. After 15 years at Kiewit, he started his own business, Campos Construction, on January 1, 1977. Starting his business with only $500 and a pickup truck, Campos grew his company to become the largest minority-owned construction company in Nebraska.…”