Ross Perot
Ross Perot was born in Texarkana, TX on June 27, 1930. His career began at the early age of 7 by selling different types of products and services from his bike. Perot would break horses, sell bridles, deliver magazines and newspapers, and sell Christmas cards. Perot continued his career and success into high school and went to the Naval Academy.
Perot entered the Naval Academy in 1949 and graduated in 1953. While at the Academy, Perot served as class president, chairman of the Honor Committee, and battalion commander. Perot did not stay in the Navy for long, and after two years of service he expressed to his father dissatisfaction with the Navy. Perot finished the last two years of his service and received an honorable discharge. Perot then moved to Dallas to try his hand in the private sector.
Perot moved to Dallas, in 1956, with his wife Margot Birmingham whom he had met while in the Naval Academy. He began work with IBM’s data processing division as a salesman. He was so successful at his job that he filled his year’s sales goal in one week. He then began pitching ideas to his supervisors, but received no response. Feeling frustrated, Perot left IBM and started Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962.
Perot’s wife, Margot, invested $1,000 dollars to found EDS, a one man data processing company. EDS soon expanded and went public. Share price of EDS exploded, and in a number of days, rose from $16 to $160. Perot continued to receive large contracts from the U.S. government, including a contract to computerize medical records.
Perot’s connection with the government continued, and in 1969 he was asked by President Nixon to help improve the treatment of prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. Perot continued to help Nixon until 1972, and the release of prisoners at the end of the Vietnam War.
In 1979 Texas governor, William Clements, commissioned Perot to develop Texas’s bills "War on Drugs." Perot accepted the position and succeeded in introducing 5 new bills to legislation that were then passed and put into practice.
While fighting Texas' "War on Drugs," Perot embarked on a rescue mission to save EDS employees taken hostage by the Iranian government. Perot oversaw the mission to save his employees with the help of other EDS employees and a retired naval officer. The mission was successful and saw the release of those held hostage, including 10,000 other prisoners.
Perot continued his political career into 1980’s by accepting an invitation from President Regan to serve on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. The PFIAB is responsible for all worldwide covert operations. He also was instrumental in reforming education in Texas. His plan to improve education resulted in major legislative changes. One of the more famous resolutions involved the “no pass, no play” rule. Student athletes now have to pass all classes to participate in sports.
Perot backed away from the political arena for a short time to sell EDS to General Motors for $2.5 billion. Perot then started his current company, Perot Systems, in 1986. With his business back in order, Perot again looked to try his hand at politics.
Perot appeared on Larry King Live, and over national television, pledged to run for President if his supporters could place his name on the ballet of all 50 states. His supporters were successful and in 1992, Perot ran for President. He spent $57 million of his own money to campaign, and received an unprecedented 19% of the vote. No other third party candidate has received such support since Theodore Roosevelt.
Perot continued his quest for the presidency and in 1995 he formed the Independence Party, now known as the Reform Party. In 1996 he ran against George Bush and Bill Clinton. Perot only received 8% of the vote.
Perot now serves as Chairman Emeritus for Perot Systems, his son, Ross Jr., is Chairman and CEO. Perot has donated over $100 million dollars to charity and has purchased an original version of the Magna Carta. Perot’s Megna Carta is the only copy to exist outside of Great Britain and is currently stored in Washington D.C. at the National Archives.