Texarkana, Texas, was the birthplace of Ross Perot on June 27, 1930, to an impoverished family, where his father, Gabriel Ross Perot, worked in cotton contracts, and his mother, Lula May (Ray),was a secretary. At the tender age of seven, Perot began working various odd jobs to supplement his family's income.
In 1949, Perot was accepted into the United States Naval Academy, where he excelled, serving in several positions, including class president. Upon his graduation in 1953, he was commissioned as a Naval officer and served on a destroyer and aircraft during the Korean War for four years.
In 1956, Perot married Margot Birmingham, and in 1957, he was honorably discharged from the Navy. He then began working for IBM as a salesman.
In 1962, Perot started his own business, Electronic Data Systems, with the financial backing of his wife. Today, the company is worth billions of dollars and has more than 70,000 employees.
Over the past three decades, Perot has worked closely with the U.S. government, conducting several rescue missions and prisoner negotiations with foreign nationals.
In 1992, Perot broke away from the Republican Party to create the Reform Party. He lost the election in 1992 and again in 1996. Eventually, the Reform Party disbanded.
Perot remained a dedicated philanthropist, often donating to charity. He and his wife, Margot, had five children and numerous grandchildren.
