Ross Perot

Ross Perot serves as Chairman of the Board of Perot Systems Corporation, a technology services company he founded in 1988. He served as Chief Executive Officer until 1992 and again from 1997 until 2000, helping to take the company public in 1999.

In 1962, Mr. Perot started Electronic Data Systems (EDS), building it into one of the world’s largest technology services firms. When two EDS employees were taken hostage by the Iranian government in 1979, Mr. Perot organized and directed a successful rescue mission. Ken Follett, in his book "On Wings of Eagles", which NBC later made into a mini-series, retold the story of this daring rescue. In 1984, Mr. Perot sold EDS to General Motors.

Mr. Perot has been involved in a number of public activities. In 1969, at the request of the U.S. government, he spearheaded a three-and-a-half-year campaign to end the brutal treatment from U.S. POW’s received from their Southeast Asian captors.

In 1979, at the request of the Governor, he led the Texans’ War on Drugs Committee that proposed five laws to make Texas the least desirable state for illegal drug activity. All five bills were passed into law.

In 1984, the Governor asked Mr. Perot to lead the effort to reform the public school system in Texas, which resulted in major legislative changes and long-lasting improvements in public education.

In 1992, Mr. Perot ran for President of the United States as an Independent candidate, winning 19% of the vote, one of the largest percentages ever for an Independent. He ran again in 1996 on the Reform Party ticket.

Mr. Perot attended public schools in Texarkana, as well as Texarkana Junior College, where he was President of the Student Council. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy where he served as Class President, Chairman of the Honor Committee and Battalion Commander. After graduating in 1953, he served four years at sea on a destroyer and on an aircraft carrier.

He married Margot Birmingham in 1956 and, after Mr. Perot’s honorable discharge from the Navy in 1957, they settled in Dallas. Mrs. Perot taught school, and he joined IBM as a salesman in the Data Processing Division.

The Perot family is actively involved in a variety of charitable and civic activities. Through the Perot Foundation, they have contributed over $170 million to many worthwhile causes and organizations.

The Perots have five children — Ross, Jr., Nancy, Suzanne, Carolyn and Katherine.