People w15/16
by Margo Ragan
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.” As you read those words, did you hear the music too? Even though the hymn is one of the most familiar songs ever performed, the story of John Newton who wrote the lyrics is not as well known, nor is the life story of the Bucks County resident, Alex Rankin, who became a producer of the Broadway musical that celebrates the message of this famous hymn.
Alex is a very successful businessman, the founder of Vulcan Spring and Manufacturing Company in Telford. There is nothing in his background to suggest that in his 80s, Alex would be producing a musical on Broadway. “I was the first member of my family to attend college,” Alex said. “My father was a hard working immigrant who acknowledged my desire to become an engineer. He gave me his blessings with a one way ticket to the University of Illinois, which is one of the best engineering schools in the country.”
Alex claims to have been an average student because he was too busy working odd jobs while studying full time; he remembers his first date with his girlfriend, now his wife Joanne. “We went to a local Steak n Shake restaurant for a 65 cent steak burger. At the time that was all I could afford, and I had to budget for that evening too,” he said.
But Alex's personal tenacity and engineering genius changed his position in life. He went unannounced to the headquarters of Hasbro Toy Company in Pawtucket Rhode Island, to introduce a spring mechanism he engineered that would make the G.I. Joe action figure talk. He so impressed the president with his concept that Hasbro funded the tooling equipment that would help to make G.I. Joe one of the best selling toys in the company's history.
Alex's company now sells products all over the world, and his college has recognized Alex's achievements by bestowing to him the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. Other professional organizations have also acknowledged his leadership and accomplishments. His interests, activities, social and business oriented, had nothing to do with the klieg lights of a Broadway musical.
All that changed in 2011 when he was invited to join a group of Doylestown business people who were meeting in the office of an insurance agent, Robert Campbell. A Broadway producer, Carolyn Rossi Copeland wanted to talk with them about a musical production called Amazing Grace that intrigued her.
Knowing that she was speaking to this particular group, Carolyn knew they would be interested in learning that a fellow Bucks Countian, Christopher Smith was the writer who has brought the story of John Newton to light. Smith, a Warwick Township policeman, literally stumbled upon the autobiography of John Newton in the library. Undaunted by the fact that he knew little or nothing about writing a musical, Christopher first consulted with his wife, then left his job as a policeman and church education director, in order to study the techniques and mechanics of writing a musical.
To learn more about Alex Rankins and his connection to Broadway play Amazing Grace, turn to page 36 in Bucks County Magazine.