Ross Perot

Ross Perot is best known for his politcal involvement for his campaigns for president in 1992 and 1996. After his presidential candidacies, Perot founded the Reform Party but abandoned it after internal disputes caused the party to disintegrate in the run up to the 2000 presidential election.

He was born to a cotton picking family in 1930 in Texarkana, Texas. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1949. After serving his commission, Perot returned to Texas and became a salesman for IBM. In 1962 he left IBM to start his own company, Electronic Data Systems, which quickly gained prominence in the industry. In 1968 Forbes magazine named Perot the "fastest, richest Texan" in a cover story profile and in 1984 he sold EDS to General Motors for $2.4 billion. In his sale of EDS to GM he secured a seat on GM's board of directors. After two years, his differences with GM executives, he left the baord, and founded another company, Perot Systems Corp., Perot is selling yet another company that he founded. He is selling Perot Systems Corp., to Dell Inc. for $3.9 billion.

• 1930: June 27, Ross Perot is born in Texarkana Texas

• 1943: Earns Eagle Scout status

• 1949: Perot enters the United States Naval Academy

• 1953: Graduates from the United States Naval Academy

• 1954: Attains the rank lieutenant, junior grade

• 1956: Marries Margot Birmingham

• 1957: Becomes a salesman for IBM, quickly becomes top seller

• 1962: Leaves IBM to start Electric Data Systems

• 1968: Electric Data Systems, after completing a lucrative Medicare computerization contract, goes public

• 1968: Fortune calls Perot the "fastest, richest Texan"

• 1979: Prior to the Iranian Revolution two of Perot's employees are imprisoned in Iran

• 1979: Perot successfully negotiates with Iran for their release

• 1984: General Motors buys EDS for $2.4 billion

• 1984: Perot buys a very early copy of the Magna Carta

• 1987: Perot buys a 16% share, and a seat on the board of Steve Jobs's NeXt Corp with $20 million.

• 1988: Founds the Perot Systems Corporation

• 1992: February 20, Perot announces his intention to run for president

• 1992: July 16, Perot withdraws from the election

• 1992: October 1, Announces his intention to resume his presidential campaign

• 1992: November, In the election, Perot receives 19% of the popular vote

• 1995: Founds the United States Reform Party

• 1996: Receives Reform Party nomination for the upcoming election

• 1996: Receives 8% of the vote in the election against Bob Dole and Bill Clinton

• 1998: Perot fails to give Jesse Ventura an endorsement in his gubernatorial race

• 2005: Testifies in front of the Texas legislature supporting the purchase of computers for schools

• 2008: Perot publicly denounces John McCain

• 2009: Sells Perot Systems Corp to Dell Inc for $3.9 billion.