by Mike Matzinger
Samuel Moore Walton (1918-1992) was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and grew up during the Great Depression. As a youth he became active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1934 at the age of fifteen. Scouting instilled in him the values of leadership, service, and perseverance that he carried throughout his life. In recognition of his lifelong support, Walton later received both the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and the Silver Buffalo Award.
After graduating from Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, Walton attended the University of Missouri, where he studied economics and graduated in 1940. He began his career as a management trainee with J.C. Penney before serving as an officer in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps during World War II. Following his military service, he purchased a Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas, in 1945 and quickly applied his focus on low prices and high sales volume.
In 1962, Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas, introducing his “Everyday Low Prices” model that transformed American retail. By the time of his death in 1992, Walmart had grown into the world’s largest retailer. Despite his wealth, Walton was known for his modest lifestyle, often driving a pickup truck and maintaining a down-to-earth approach to life. He married Helen Robson in 1943, and together they raised four children: Rob, John, Jim, and Alice.
Walton’s legacy is defined not only by the retail empire he built but also by the character shaped in part by his Scouting experience. His commitment to hard work, integrity, and service reflected the principles he first embraced as a young Scout, leaving a lasting impact on business and community alike.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/sam-walton-biography/197560