Bill Johns

Bryce Alderton

Bill Johns used to make hits on opposing ballcarriers as a noseguard

for Newport Harbor High. Now, the 27-year-old Costa Mesa resident

creates something a little less punishing -- candles.

The former Sailor star who was a key part of the 1994 football

team that went an undefeated 14-0 to claim the school’s first CIF

title in the sport, patented, along with friends and business

partners Ryan Eberle and Alex Connelly, a candle made out of wax, but

one that doesn’t burn.

The three formed Great Ideas Inc., located in Irvine, last year,

on the heels of tackling a need.

“The idea came from how easy it is for a candle fire to start,

especially if you have young kids,” said Johns, who spent most of his

college career at the University of Arizona filming athletic events

as he worked toward his bachelor of fine arts degree, which he

obtained in 2000.

It was at Arizona that Johns met Eberle, 29, and the two are now

roommates.

The “Candle Safe candles,” as they are called, contain a

microprocessor on the inside, which, on certain models -- there are

three types -- turns the candle “off” when it is light and turns it

“on” when it is dark. Candles can be programmed to turn “on” or “off”

at selected times. Some models run on double-A batteries while others

allow for a recharger.

“It’s exactly like a real candle,” Johns said. “The first purpose

is safety and the second purpose is to give the ambience of a real

candle. This way, we have eliminated matches, wax spills ...

everything bad about a candle.” Each candle contains a tear-drop

shaped bulb in place of a flame.

The trio comes up with the design, then the candle and parts are

manufactured in Taiwan before being shipped back to Irvine, where

they are packaged and sent to the buyers.

The group’s first sell was to the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas

before last Halloween and they followed that up with a deal with Josh

Slocums, the Newport eatery owned by former NBA player Dennis Rodman.

“Alex and I asked if they wanted to buy candles,” recalled Johns

of the first pitch to sell the candles to Slocums’ management. “They

told us to get lost. Then Rodman’s place burned.” A two-alarm fire

caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the restaurant last July.

“Then we called back and they said they needed some candles so we

made them at the apartment,” Johns said.

Barclay’s Butera Inc., an interior furnishings store in Newport,

purchased 200 candles from the trio, who is in negotiations with QVC,

the home shopping network, to begin the push to sell on national

television.

“[The network] placed a purchase order [eight or nine] days ago so

we are still in that process,” said Johns, who has spent time working

for a home theater installation company while Great Ideas gets off

the ground.

Johns sent many a ballcarrier to the turf in his days as a Newport

defensive lineman.

The Sea View League Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 still

attends Newport games with his mother and father, Colleen and Buck,

and visits Newport coaches Jeff Brinkley and Mike Bargas when he gets

a chance.

“[Brinkley] thought [the candle] was a great idea,” Johns said.

“The greatest thing about your coaches is they become your friends

over the years. We were all very lucky to have them.”

Johns said he had no doubts Newport would prevail against Servite

in the Division V title game in 1994 -- a 20-15 final that culminated

in a 38-yard winning touchdown pass from senior quarterback John

Giordani to tight end Mike Freeman.

“We knew that no matter what, the coaching staff would take the

next step and keep it going and it has worked in life,” Johns said.

That next step for Johns is now a little brighter.