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Sam Walton Influence On American Culture

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Many Americans shop at Walmart and Sam’s Club. But not very many of them know the story behind America’s biggest retailers. Sam Walton was a very successful entrepreneur who changed the business industry forever, altering the way Americans shopped and becoming one of the world’s richest men in the process. During his early life, he was a very busy child. Sam later graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in economics. Sam’s death affected Americans greatly as they had lost one of their most prized possession.
Samuel Moore Walton was born on March 29, 1918 to Thomas Walton and Nancy Lee in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Sam was the first born son in his family. When he was just a baby the Walton’s decided to move to Missouri where Sam and his brother, Bud Walton, were raised. As a child Sam was both an intelligent student and a great athlete. “Sam was going out for football and basketball, learning to play tennis, making A’s and more friends, grinding away on merit badges in hopes of becoming an Eagle Scout, …show more content…

In 1943, Sam married Helen Kemper and they lived together in their home in Bentonville, Arkansas until 1953. The Walton´s had four children; Alice Walton, S. Robson Walton, Jim C. Walton, and John T. Walton. Two years after he decided to step down, Sam was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and hairy-cell leukemia. On March 17, 1992, about a month before Walton died, he was presented with the Medal of Freedom by President George Bush. “At the ceremony, Bush said, “This is not… about Sam Walton’s wealth. It’s about leadership. It’s about decency. As he became more and more successful he never turned his back on his roots.” (North American Biographies Vol. 3; Pg. 222) This was his last, greatest achievement before Walton passed. Sam checked into the University of Arkansas Hospital and passed away on April 5, 1992. Walton was reported to have a net worth roughly of $25 billion after his

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