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Fighter Pilot, Businessman, Inventor:
James R. Piper

Jim Piper stands on the wing of his fighter plane during service with the United States Marine Corps in the 1950s.

James Richard Piper

Born: June 4, 1931 Los Angeles, California
Died: September 19, 1989 Guadalajara, Mexico

James Richard Piper was born on June 4, 1931, in Los Angeles. He was interested in mechanics from a young age and built "hot rods" in his parents' garage during his teens. After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from USC, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a fighter pilot. He married twice and had six children.

In the mid-60s, he founded Cadillac Construction in Los Angeles, where he designed and built 4-6 apartment units on each property. He also invented a unique hydronic water and space heating system and founded Piper Hydro to begin manufacturing it. He added solar water heating panels to his system to make it more energy-efficient after the Arab oil embargo in 1973. By 1978, he had acquired 13 US patents, and in 1979, he took the company public in an IPO that raised several million dollars. He merged Piper Hydro into Catalyst Thermal Energy Development in 1985.

In retirement, Piper moved to Lake Chapala in Mexico, where he met Maria Socorro LaPine in early 1989. Later it was revealed that LaPine was plotting to kill him and steal all of his assets, including his prized Ferraris.

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Memories of Inventor, Jim Piper

Boots LeBaron: Freelance writer based in Manhattan Beach

By Boots LeBaron

Freelance writer based in Manhattan Beach
Inventor and solar activist James R. Piper, 59, who for years vehemently opposed the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity, died of a heart attack in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sept. 19, 1989.
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Perky Piper picks a peck of purring perks

By Boots LeBaron for the Daily Breeze
James R. Piper and his '77 Ferrari.
If James R. Piper was made of nuts and bolts instead of flesh and a hunk of hair, he'd probably have a slightly dented Chevrolet frame for a body, extra wide mag wheels because he wears nine-and-half D-width shoes, and for a heart, six Weber racing carburetors pumping under his hood.
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Jim's Ferraris

1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT
Jim's pride and joy was his 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT (0379 GT). He acquired it in 1962 and still owned it at the time of his death in 1989. But it was just the first among several.
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Solar Pioneer

After two Arab oil embargos in the early to mid 70s and the US experiencing rapidly rising energy costs, 60 Minutes interviewed Jim to find out how he was saving consumers money and helping conserve our nation's energy reserves.

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The Black Widow of Guadaljara

Maria Socorro LaPine is known as the Black Widow of Guadaljara because she is believed have been responsible for the deaths of nine people: three husbands (including James Piper), two lovers, two friends, a business associate, and a funeral director.
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