Herman Cain: The Early Years
Samuel Howard Archer High School, Atlanta, class of 1963
Posted on 05/20/2011 5:15:33 PM PDT by Kartographer
On Saturday, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain will "announce his decision regarding a potential White House bid" at "High Noon" in Atlanta, according to his campaign.
He's already formed a campaign committee, but such an announcement may draw more attention to the Republican fast food executive and political novice in the months ahead, just as his break-out appearance at the South Carolina GOP presidential primary debate in early May did.
One thing we do know: before Cain began running for president he was, as we all were at one point, a high school student.
Unlike most of us, however, Cain was exceptional, winning both "Best All Around" and "Most Likely to Succeed" honors as a senior at Samuel Howard Archer High School in Atlanta, from which he graduated in 1963.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia by loving and hardworking parents. We grew up poor, but we grew up happy. Things weren’t always easy, but my mom and dad knew that if they kept their faith in God, faith in themselves and their faith in the greatest country in the world, they, too, could achieve their American Dream.
That dream, we discovered, was for my parents to own their own home and watch their two sons graduate from college. Those dreams required that my father work three jobs to support our family.
The first dream was realized in a brick home on Albert Street. I can still recall the excitement of the day, as he surprised us—even my mother—when he drove us to our new home.
Their second dream was realized when I proudly accepted my degree in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967 and my brother graduated from Morris Brown College. Both of my father’s American Dreams were achieved. Now, I set off to achieve mine.
One year after graduating, I married the love of my life, Gloria. And together, we started our journey to achieve our Dreams. This meant relocating to Indiana where I would begin my Master’s degree program at Purdue University, while working full-time as a mathematician at the Department of the Navy.
After earning my Master’s degree and six years working for the Department of the Navy, we returned home to Atlanta, where I began to climb the corporate ladder with the Coca-Cola Company. I faced challenges, but I always remembered the values my parents taught me. With enough faith and determination, I knew I could go as high in corporate America as I desired.
I enjoyed a successful career at the Coca-Cola Company and later moved to the Pillsbury Company. Within a short period, I rose to the position of Vice President. When I got there, I thought I had already achieved my American Dream on the 31st floor of the new Pillsbury Corporate Headquarters with a corner office. But I quickly realized I wanted something more.
I resigned my position and started on another path- the restaurant industry. I knew that in order to be successful, I had to start from “the ground up.” This meant broiling hamburgers at Pillsbury’s Burger King division. After nine months of a grueling restaurant experience, I was assigned to lead a low performing region of 450 Burger King restaurants. Within three years, we became the best-performing region in the U.S.
I could have been content with my executive role with one of America’s biggest corporations. Instead, after consulting with my wife, we decided to take one of the biggest risks of our marriage: picking up our young family, relocating yet again and accepting the call to become CEO and President of Godfather’s Pizza, a company teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
In 14 months, we turned the company around and returned it to profitability, and I ultimately led my management team to a buyout of Godfather’s Pizza. The company never went bankrupt, and today, there are still hundreds of locations across the U.S.
My success at turning around Godfather’s got the attention of fellow restaurateurs around the nation who invited me to join the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association and later elected me its chairman. In 1996, they retained me as the full-time President and the CEO of the National Restaurant Association, working on behalf of thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs.
In 1994, as chairman of the National Restaurant Association, I had the opportunity to speak with President Clinton during a nationally televised town hall meeting. Here, I challenged the President regarding the impact on businesses if his health care overhaul proposal were passed.
President Clinton attempted to assure me and the millions of viewers watching at home that his legislation would not harm American business owners and their employees.
I was skeptical. “Quite honestly Mr. President, your calculations are incorrect,” I said. “In the competitive marketplace, it simply doesn’t work that way.”
Through these and other appearances on behalf of the National Restaurant Association, I began working with business leaders across all sectors of the American economy. This led to my acceptance of a position on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and I was subsequently elected their chairman.
Today, I host a radio talk show, “The Herman Cain Show,” on Atlanta’s WSB 750 AM/ 95.5 FM. I serve as a regular contributor on several broadcast networks and as a keynote speaker at conferences and events around the nation.
Despite the many professional commitments of my life, I continued to enjoy most the time spent with family and friends. As my children got married and had their own children, I knew that I had an extraordinary obligation to do what I could to make this a safe and prosperous nation for them. The paramount joys in my life are my wife, Gloria, our children and our grandchildren.
I am grateful for the many professional successes I have enjoyed. I am grateful for the steadfast loyalty and unwavering love of my family and friends. And I am grateful for this country that is so exceptional that I was afforded the opportunity to achieve my American Dreams.
I’m not done yet!
Just the opposite of Obarry.
Very impressive. Starting at the low rung and reaching the top time and time again. Way more than most can say. Or achieve even once. And all with a smile, genuine candor, good business sense and a love of country. If he wins the nod, I would work very hard for this man to get him elected.
I don’t see any “do have any idea how hard it was for a BLACK man to ...”
I REALLY like this guy. He is a underdog; but so was Reagan!
He almost looks like a young Poitier in that pic.
Sorry, but I don’t get it...
I dunno, aside from the glasses, I don’t think he looks that much like Raj.
for later
Free the Long Form Copy!
It was the glasses I was comparing. Raj was a skinny nerd; that’s not Cain.
I agree. He didn’t make all those companies successful without the skill of putting the right people in place. I think John Bolton would make a great Sec. of State in a Cain WH.
Ummmm yeah. I am a "real black Man” who has done what the American Dream is all about also. Does my comparing his dorky glasses to that of a television character tell you otherwise?
Absolutely! He knows what it is to work and study hard, earn a living, and live the American Dream. He is terrific! I would love for him to be called “Mr. President”!
“Just the opposite of Obarry.”
Exactly. Barry isn’t fit to polish Herman Cain’s shoes. Perhaps many in this country will realize this in the next campaign and election. Herman Cain is a real American...something that Barry is not on a variety of levels.
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