On July 9, 2019, H. Ross Perot Sr., a longtime supporter of UT Southwestern Medical Center and a nationally celebrated businessman, politician, and philanthropist, died at the age of 89.
Perot has been a significant benefactor of UT Southwestern for more than three decades.
Along with his wife, Margot, and the Perot Foundation, he donated over $93 million to UT Southwestern, including a $25 million gift to support neuroscience research at the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute and considerable support for the Innovations in Medicine campaign.
“Mr. Perot’s extraordinary support for UT Southwestern enabled us to establish and provide exceptional educational opportunities for generations of future physician scientists and deliver impactful research and care that has left a lasting impact on Texas and the nation.”
Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern Medical Center
Beyond his work as a philanthropist, Perot is known for his independent campaigns in 1992 and 1996. He was also a distinguished figure in the corporate world – founding Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962, and Perot Systems Corporation in 1988.
Through his success as a politician, businessman, and philanthropist, Perot demonstrated an unparalleled dedication to both his country and community. He was known for his incredible drive and humility, which made him not only a great leader, but a great man of character.
In an interview, Mr. Perot’s son and the CEO of the Perot Group, Ross Perot Jr., described his dad, saying he was “a great family man [and] a wonderful father. But at the end of the day, he was a wonderful humanitarian.”