About
Samuel Moore Walton was born on March 29, 1918, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. After graduating with a degree in economics from the University of Missouri in 1940, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1945, he opened a Ben Franklin franchise in Newport, Arkansas, and later moved to Bentonville in 1950. In 1962, he founded the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, which would become the world's largest retailer. He also created Sam's Club in 1983 and launched Supercenters in 1988. Ranked by Forbes as the richest American from 1982 to 1988, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. He authored his autobiography 'Sam Walton: Made in America' (1992). He died on April 5, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Major works
- Sam Walton: Made in America (1992)autobiography
Key milestones
- 1962Founded the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas.
- 1983Founded Sam's Wholesale Club.
- 1992Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Themes
EntrepreneurshipRetailLeadershipInnovationCorporate culture
Sources: britannica.com · encyclopediaofarkansas.net · walton.uark.edu