Do you ever think of how a huge company came to be? Or where the company originally started? Wal-Mart, the biggest retailer in the world, was created by a Arkansan, Sam Walton. Sam Walton was born on March 29,1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. His parents were Thomas Walton and Nancy Walton. He was the first of two in the Walton family. Sam Walton started at a very young age, selling magazine subscriptions in his small town. During his childhood he learned the art of manufacturing. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia earning a business degree in 1940. Two years later, Walton was inducted into the U.S Army. On February 14,1943, Walton married an Oklahoma native, Helen Robson. After the marriage Walton was transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah to serve for the next 2 years. Sam was discharged from the military in 1945. The couple bought a Ben Franklin Five and Dime in Newport, Arkansas and opened it for business on September 1,1945. (Martin) …show more content…
In 1962, Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. (Martin) Walmart’s stock worth jumped to $45 billion, in the early 1990s. In 1991 Walmart beat Sears, Roebuck Company to become the country’s largest retailer.(A&E Television Networks) Walton hula danced down Wall Street to celebrate the company’s achievements. (Martin) In 1992, Walton was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. In 1988, Walton announced that he was handing over the duties of CEO to Walmart to Executive David Glass. Although he was not CEO of the company, he continued to serve as chairman of company till his death in 1992. (Sam