Lunch with Ross Perot Jr.

Date/Time: April 23, 2015 11:45AM-1:15PM CDT

 

Registration: To pay by credit card, click here. Patrons, please register by emailing LaRee directly at lbryant316@aol.com 

 

Ross Perot Jr. serves as Chairman of The Perot Companies, which manages the various Perot family businesses that include real estate, oil and gas and financial investments. Perot also serves as Chairman of Hillwood, which he founded in 1988. Recognized for its high-profile projects and public-private ventures, Hillwood is ranked among the top 10 real estate developers in the U.S. and is the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Perot is a founder of Perot Systems Corporation and served on its Board of Directors beginning in 1988 and was CEO from 2000-2004. He served as Chairman of the Board from 2004 until the company was acquired by Dell Inc. in 2009. During his tenure on the Board, Perot Systems grew to become a multi-billion dollar global IT services company with more than 24,000 associates in North America, Europe and Asia.

 

A native of Dallas, Perot graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas in 1977 and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University in 1981. In 1982, after graduating from Vanderbilt University, he completed the first helicopter flight around the world. The 26,000-mile trip was completed in less than 30 days, crossing 26 countries, and 17 seas and oceans. His helicopter, The Spirit of Texas, is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

 

After joining the United States Air Force in 1983, Perot earned certification as an F-4 pilot and served for 8 ½ years. He then served as chairman of the Air Force Memorial Foundation where he led a 14-year effort to build the United States Air Force Memorial in Washington, DC, honoring the men and women of the United States Air Force. The Memorial was dedicated to the Nation in October 2006.

 

From 2002-2003, Perot served as Chairman of the Governor's Task Force for Economic Growth, which was charged with advising Texas Governor Rick Perry on ways to ensure long-term economic growth in Texas. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the East-West Institute, serves on the board of Vanderbilt University, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum and St. Mark's School of Texas.

 

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan presented Perot with the Gold Medal Award for Extraordinary Service. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, and also the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. In 2008, he and his father, Ross Perot, jointly received the H. Neil Mallon Award presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. In 2012, he was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor.