# Sam Walton

> American businessman (1918–1992)

**Wikidata**: [Q497827](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q497827)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Walton)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sam-walton

## Summary
Sam Walton was an American businessman and entrepreneur who lived from 1918 to 1992. He is best known as the founder of Walmart and its early international expansion, Walmart de México y Centroamérica, which he established in 1954. His work revolutionized the retail industry through the creation of a massive global retail network.

## Biography
- **Born**: March 29, 1918
- **Nationality**: United States (American)
- **Education**: University of Missouri (public research university in Columbia, Missouri)
- **Known for**: Founding Walmart and establishing Walmart de México y Centroamérica in 1954
- **Employer(s)**: Founder and operator of Walmart and Walmart de México y Centroamérica
- **Field(s)**: Retail, Business, Entrepreneurship

## Contributions
Sam Walton's primary contribution was the founding and operation of Walmart, a retail enterprise that grew into a global superpower in the sector. In 1954, he specifically founded Walmart de México y Centroamérica, marking one of the earliest international expansions of his retail empire. This subsidiary, headquartered in Mexico City, operates as a public company on the OTC Markets Group under the ticker WMMVF. His work established a retail model that utilized global sourcing and local adaptation to serve customers across Mexico and Central America.

## FAQs
**What was Sam Walton's primary role in the business world?**
Sam Walton was an American entrepreneur and businessman who owned and operated a business enterprise, specifically founding the retail giant Walmart. He is classified as a person who assumes the risks of profit or loss for a business, distinguishing him as a key figure in economic activity and commerce.

**Did Sam Walton found any international companies?**
Yes, Sam Walton founded Walmart de México y Centroamérica in 1954, which serves as the Mexican and Central American subsidiary of Walmart. This company operates as a public entity headquartered in Mexico City and is one of the largest retail chains in the region.

**What awards and recognitions did Sam Walton receive?**
Sam Walton was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the joint-highest civilian award of the United States. Additionally, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in the Boy Scouts of America, and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his service.

**Where did Sam Walton receive his higher education?**
Sam Walton was educated at the University of Missouri, a public research university located in Columbia, Missouri. This institution is part of the United States higher education system and has a significant number of employees and students.

**What is the legacy of Sam Walton's international expansion?**
His founding of Walmart de México y Centroamérica in 1954 created a lasting retail presence in Latin America that operates across multiple countries. The company continues to trade publicly and maintains a significant digital and physical footprint, influencing consumer patterns and employment in the region.

## Why They Matter
Sam Walton matters because he fundamentally altered the global retail landscape by creating a business model that combined massive scale with operational efficiency. His establishment of Walmart de México y Centroamérica in 1954 demonstrated the viability of early international expansion for American retailers, influencing how global supply chains are managed today. As an entrepreneur who assumed significant financial risk, he drove competition and innovation in the retail sector, shaping the economic environment for millions of consumers and suppliers. His legacy is evident in the continued dominance of Walmart as a global superpower in commerce and the enduring presence of his subsidiaries in international markets.

## Notable For
- **Founding Walmart**: The creation of one of the world's largest retail corporations.
- **International Expansion**: Establishing Walmart de México y Centroamérica in 1954, a pioneering move for US retail.
- **Presidential Medal of Freedom**: Recipient of the United States' highest civilian honor.
- **Eagle Scout**: Achieved the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
- **Distinguished Eagle Scout Award**: Recognized for distinguished service in the scouting community.
- **Entrepreneurship**: Defined as a person who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business enterprise.
- **Retail Innovation**: Pioneering a model that influenced global trade and consumer behavior.
- **Public Company Leadership**: Oversaw the creation of a public entity trading on the OTC Markets Group.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Sam Walton was born on March 29, 1918, in the United States. He pursued his higher education at the University of Missouri, a public research university located in Columbia, Missouri. This institution, founded in 1839, provided the academic foundation for his future career in business and entrepreneurship. His citizenship was American, and he was a member of the human species, specifically the genus Homo.

### Career and Entrepreneurship
Sam Walton's career was defined by his role as an entrepreneur, a person who owns and operates a business. He is classified as a businessperson and an economist in the context of his professional activities. His primary field of work was economic activity and commerce, where he organized and managed enterprises. A key distinction of his role was the assumption of risk regarding profit or loss, a core characteristic of entrepreneurship. He founded Walmart, which became a dominant force in the retail industry.

### Founding of Walmart de México y Centroamérica
In 1954, Sam Walton founded Walmart de México y Centroamérica, a significant milestone in the history of international retail. This company, often referred to as Walmex, operates as a public company in Mexico. It is headquartered in Mexico City at Blvd. Avila Camacho No. 647, with a postal code of 11220-1220. The company trades on the OTC Markets Group under the ticker symbol WMMVF and has the ISIN code MXP810081010. As a subsidiary of Walmart, it leverages global resources while adapting to local market conditions in Mexico and Central America.

### Awards and Recognition
Sam Walton received several prestigious awards during his lifetime. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the joint-highest civilian award of the United States, bestowed by the President. In the realm of youth organizations, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in the Boy Scouts of America, which was established in 1911. He was also honored with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, recognizing his distinguished service to the scouting community.

### Legacy and Impact
The legacy of Sam Walton is evident in the continued success of Walmart and its international subsidiaries. Walmart de México y Centroamérica remains a major employer and economic driver in the region, influencing supply chain logistics and consumer shopping patterns. The company's public status and listing on the OTC Markets Group provide liquidity for investors and transparency in financial reporting. Sam Walton's work as an entrepreneur has been recognized in various knowledge organization systems, including the Dewey Decimal Classification and the Art & Architecture Thesaurus. His life and achievements are documented in numerous encyclopedias and library catalogs, ensuring his impact on the global economy is preserved for future generations.

### Personal Identifiers and Metadata
Sam Walton's identity is supported by a wide array of identifiers across different databases. His Wikidata description is "American businessman (1918–1992)." He has a sitelink count of 56 across various Wikipedia language editions. His aliases include "Samuel Moore Walton." He is associated with the conflict of World War II, which occurred from 1939 to 1945. His citizenship is linked to the United States, a country located primarily in North America. He is also associated with the University of Missouri, where he was educated. His death occurred on April 5, 1992.

## References

1. Encyclopedia of Arkansas
2. Genealogics
3. [Sam Walton (1918–1992). Encyclopedia of Arkansas](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/samuel-moore-walton-1792/)
4. [Presbyterian obit on Wal-Mart founder's widow. 2007](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2007/04/20/presbyterian-obit-on-wal-mart-founder-s-widow/)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. CiNii Research
8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
9. SNAC
10. Find a Grave
11. GeneaStar
12. Roglo
13. Open Library
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Norwegian Authority File: Persons and Corporate Bodies
16. IdRef
17. Quora