Robert D. Van Kampen (December 16, 1938 – October 29, 1999) was an American businessman, who served as a member of various organizational boards in the business world and Christian ministry.
Robert Van Kampen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert D. Van Kampen (1938-12-16)December 16, 1938 Evergreen Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 1999(1999-10-29) (aged 60) |
| Education | Wheaton College |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder ofVan Kampen Investments andFirst Trust |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Robert Pierre (grandson) |
Van Kampen's business career took him into the investment banking world, and he became one of the wealthiest men in theUnited States after founding the investment banking firmVan Kampen Merritt (later renamed toVan Kampen Investments) in 1974. In 1991, he founded another firm named Nike Securities which was later renamed toFirst Trust.
Business career
editVan Kampen was born on December 16, 1938, inEvergreen Park, Illinois. Van Kampen was educated atWheaton Academy inWest Chicago andWheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, graduating in 1960. After graduation he worked atNuveen as a bond salesman where he was known as "The Charger" due to his ambition and drive.[1][2]
In 1967, Van Kampen left Nuveen over a compensation dispute and co-founded aninvestment banking firm, Van Kampen, Wauterlek & Brown which was later renamed to Clayton Brown & Associates.[2][3] In 1974, he left the firm to found another firm,Van Kampen Merritt that was later acquired byXerox in 1984.[4]
From 1980 to 1992, Van Kampen was also a partner in VMS Realty.[1]
In September 1991, Van Kampen founded another firm named Nike Securities inChicago. It would be later renamed toFirst Trust.[3][4]
Religious views
editAs an evangelical Christian, Van Kampen was known for applying biblical principles to the running of his business, and there was a strict code of personal conduct among his many employees.Divorce was frowned upon and the drinking of hard liquor discouraged.[2]
In the 1990s, Van Kampen developed what is known today in evangelical Christianeschatology as the"Pre-Wrath” rapture position, authoring three books on the subject.[1][2]
His family foundation owns one of the largest private collections of rare and antiqueBibles in North America, which was housed in the Scriptorium at theHoly Land Experience inOrlando,Florida.[1][2]
Personal life
editIn 1963 Van Kampen married, and he and his wife had three children. Having initially lived in Wheaton, Illinois, Van Kampen made his home in West Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, andWest Michigan. Van Kampen died on October 29, 1999, at the age of 60 inLoyola University Medical Center while waiting for aheart transplant.[1]
Christian singerRobert Pierre, son of Van Kampen's daughter Karla and Scott Pierre, is Van Kampen's grandson.[5]
References
edit- ^abcdeWilliam H Honan (November 4, 1999)."Robert Van Kampen, Investor And Bible Collector, Dies at 60".New York Times. Retrieved2008-01-14.
- ^abcde"FINANCIER COLLECTED WEALTH OF HOLY TEXTS".Chicago Tribune. 2001-08-16. Retrieved2023-12-10.
- ^ab"Clayton Brown, who ran municipal bond firm, dies at 95".Chicago Tribune. 2023-11-28. Retrieved2023-12-10.
- ^ab"Nike Securities completes the purchase of Clayton Brown's unit trust division".American Banker. 1991-10-02. Retrieved2023-12-10.
- ^Pinsky, Mark (2 November 2006). "A voice of faith ; Windermere's Robert Pierre uses his singing talent to spread the gospel, but will his voice break before his career lifts off?". Orlando Sentinel.ProQuest 280362953.