John Price possesses significant experience in entrepreneurship, foreign relations & political issues, the future of sub-Saharan Africa, terrorism concerns as well as a love of vintage race cars.
Personal Life
John Price was born Hans Joachim Praiss on August 18, 1933 in Spandau, Germany. At the age of five in April 1939, his family fled Nazi Germany, eventually settling in New York City in the fall of 1940. Price first visited Salt Lake City as a geology student in 1954. He quickly realized Utah was where he wanted to be. Two years later, in June of 1956, he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in geological engineering.
John Price as young boy
The following summer brought more changes as Price married his wife, Marcia Poulsen, on August 17, 1957. Shortly following the marriage he started his first business, J. Price Construction Company. During the following years and decades Price grew to be one of Utah’s most prominent businessmen. He enjoyed success in a variety of fields both throughout the Intermountain region and nationally, and also served on numerous local, state, and national boards.
Public Service
Price first visited the Horn of Africa in February 1970. He and his wife Marcia embarked on a fact-finding mission for the CARE and UNICEF operations and the United Nations World Food Program. Years later, he was ready when the White House called to enlist his service. On February 8, 2002, John Price was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros. Price served as ambassador until June 17, 2005.
Swearing-in of Ambassador John Price
In the time since his public service, Ambassador Price has continued to be involved in the area. Price works to raise awareness and interest in the issues facing sub-Saharan Africa as well as the resulting impact on the United States. These issues include; the Horn of Africa as an epicenter for terrorist groups, civil affairs programs including schools and hospitals, embassy closings, and many more. Ambassador Price shares his analysis and knowledge on these and many other issues via his archive on this website.
Vintage Race Cars
John Price has a love for vintage racers. The recently produced Boys of Bonneville is a documentary highlighting the story of David Abbott “Ab” Jenkins. With almost superhuman stamina and boyish charm, Ab set out to single-handedly break every existing land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. As part of the project, Jenkins’ car (the “Mormon Meteor III”) was restored and returned for ceremonial laps on the Salt. Boys of Bonneville was selected at many film festivals, and won a number of awards. Learn more about Boys of Bonneville here.
Ab Jenkins' Mormon Meteor III
The Price Museum of Speed was founded in Salt Lake City Utah. The Museum features a rare display of early racing history. Many of the vintage racers either won or placed well in numerous events such as the Grand Prix, Le Mans, Morris Park, Briarcliff Cup, Daytona Beach, Gordon Bennett Cup, Empire Track at Yonkers, Sheepshead Bay, Indianapolis, and Mille Miglia. The Mormon Meteor III calls the Museum its home. The mission of the Museum is to display unique vintage racers and memorabilia for future generations of car enthusiasts to enjoy. Learn more about the Museum here.
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- 08/18/1933 Hans Joachim Praiss was born in Spandau, Germany
- 04/22/1939 Praiss family arrives in Panama
- 09/22/1940 Praiss family lands in the United States by way of Ellis Island. The family changed their names to more Anglicized versions (Hans Joachim to John, Praiss to Price, etc.)
- 07/01/1954 John Price first visited Salt Lake City as a geology student
- 06/01/1956 Price graduated from the University of Utah. He earned his degree in geological engineering.
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- 08/17/1957 Price married Marcia Poulsen
- 09/01/1957 Price began his first business, J. Price Construction Company
- 01/01/1960 Dearden & Price Construction Company became John Price Associates, Inc
- 12/01/1969 Price became president of Salt Lake Hardware (later Alta Industries Corp.)
- 02/01/1970 Marcia and John Price went to the Horn of Africa and East Africa on a fact-finding mission for the CARE and UNICEF operations and the United Nations World Food Program
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- 01/01/1989 Price was appointed to the Industry Sector Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Business, which coordinated with the Department of Commerce
- 01/14/1994 JP Realty, Inc. went public
- 04/08/1998 Governer Michael Leavitt and SLC Mayor Deedee Corradini appointed Price to be a member of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee Board of Trustees for the 2002 Olympics
- 01/01/1999 He was asked by George H.W. Bush to serve on the National Finance Advisory Council for the George and Barbara Bush Endowment for Innovative Cancer Research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- 02/11/1999 Price was selected to be on the Management Committee for the 2002 Olympics
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- 03/14/2001 The White House called to ask him to be ambassador
- 09/19/2001 President Bush sent his nomination for Price to be ambassador to the Senate
- 11/29/2001 Price confirmation hearings with the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee
- 02/08/2002 Sworn in by Colin Powell at the Utah State Capitol
- 06/01/2002 The dedication of the Marcia and John Price Museum of Fine Arts Building on the University of Utah campus
- 02/08/2002 – 6/17/2005 Price served as U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros
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- 2005-2012 Authored the book “When the White House Calls”. Published numerous timely articles on the spread of radical Islam in North Africa, Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Middle East, where al-Qaeda linked terrorist groups had become embedded; in 2009 the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) established its presence in the region, for which the United States was not prepared.
- 2012-2022 Resident Scholar at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, teaching a think tank class on Africa; Arabian Peninsula and Middle East related issues.