1. John James Rigas was an American businessman who was one of the founders of Adelphia Communications Corporation, which at its peak was one of the largest cable TV companies in the United States.
17 Facts About John Rigas
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John Rigas was the majority owner of the Buffalo Sabres franchise of the National Hockey League.
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John Rigas's division ended up being involved in the liberation of Dachau concentration camp in April 1945.
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John Rigas studied engineering and earned a bachelor of science degree in management engineering.
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John Rigas was a member of the Nu Theta chapter of Phi Mu Delta.
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John Rigas then returned to Wellsville, only to take a job with the Sylvania corporation in Emporium, Pennsylvania.
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In 1952, John Rigas started his first business venture by buying a movie theater in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, a town midway between Wellsville and Emporium.
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John Rigas borrowed the money from his family and friends, including his godfather, James Lucas, to purchase the theater and started operating it in the evenings while he worked days at the Sylvania plant.
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Always looking to grow his company, John Rigas had teamed with his brother Gus to start Adelphia after buying out his partners.
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John Rigas was honored numerous times, including honorary degrees by three universities.
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John Rigas resigned from his position as CEO of Adelphia in May 2002 after being indicted for bank fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud.
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John Rigas was convicted of the charges in the summer of 2004, and on June 27,2005, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
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John Rigas sold his house in Indigo Run, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to pay for legal fees.
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On December 14,2015, John Rigas' lawyers announced that he was terminally ill with bladder cancer and had between one and six months to live.
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John Rigas was diagnosed with cancer before his conviction and, under his sentencing, could seek compassionate release if he had less than three months to live.
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John Rigas was alive and well enough to make public appearances by June 2016.
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John Rigas died in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, on September 30,2021, at the age of 96.