Samuel Moore Walton

Sam Walton

Samuel Walton (known to most people as Sam Walton) is my hero because he decided to go to college, and worked under people that helped him to become successful in the marketing business. The fact that he has a good background, joined the army, and had a big chain of stores around the world, are a few that make him a hero to me.

He was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Now that is not to far away from Oklahoma City. It is 49.7 miles from Oklahoma City. Now I was born in Oklahoma City and I was comparing the distance. He grew up during the Great Depression. His parents owned a farm, but his father decided that it did not bring in enough income. So then his father opened a mortgage bank.

In 1942 he joined the army, but not before he asked Helen Robson to marry him. Then he joined the army but instead of going to war, he was put in the reserves. He joined the intelligence corps of the army. In his military career he reached the rank of captain.

His first store was actually in Rogers, Arkansas. He started his chain of stores after resigning from the army. He started the business with a $20,000 loan from his father-in-law, plus $5,000 he saved from his time in the army. With that money he bought a Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas. Now in today’s society there is a Wal-mart in almost every town. While some are more fancy and bigger than others, they all fulfill the same propose to give great products at a low price.

You see why Sam Walton is my hero because he has a good background, his army career, and his stores. There is also a another reason why he is my hero and that is because my dad was in the marines and overseas a lot and my great grandfather was in World War 2.