PEROT CHILDREN DONATE $50 MILLION TO MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE IN HONOR OF PARENTS MARGOT AND H. ROSS PEROT

Dallas community and civic leaders were abuzz after invitations arrived promising a "major announcement" regarding the Museum of Nature & Science's plans to build a new facility in downtown Dallas.

And the standing-room-only crowd of 300-plus attending the news conference on May 30, 2008, at the W Hotel didn't leave disappointed. 

Cheers and thunderous applause greeted Museum of Nature & Science president/CEO Nicole Small as she announced that the children of Margot and H. Ross Perot were making a $50 million gift in honor of their parents.The Victory Park facility, which will be named in honor of Margot and H. Ross Perot, will address the growing demand for math and science education.

"The Perot children's incredible gift of $50 million is extremely significant because, by reaching the $100-million milestone, it will allow us to break ground at the Victory Park site in late 2009," said Small."We are so honored to receive this momentous tribute from the Perot children celebrating their parents' amazing contributions to society."

Mr. and Mrs. H. Ross Perot and their five children - Katherine Perot, Carolyn Rathjen, Suzanne McGee, Nancy Mulford and Ross Perot, Jr. - were joined by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and Museum leadership.  The Perots' gift is the largest ever made to the Museum of Nature & Science and is believed to be one of the single-largest cash gifts to a Dallas museum.

The event proved insightful, inspiring and heartwarming.

Immediately after the announcement, a surprise video ran offering special words of congratulations to the Perots - everyone from kindergartners at the East Dallas Community School who delighted the audience with their snaggletoothed proclamations "to learn more about science and become doctors and archeologists when they grow up," to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, philanthropist Margaret McDermott, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and 2005 Pritzker Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, who was named architect for the Museum's new facility.  Also featured was epidemiologist Dr. Robert Haley who recalled that his early interest in science was spurred from his parent's frequent visits to science museums.

Mayor Leppert addressed the significance of the gift.

"Margot and Ross Perot have given so much to Dallas and to thousands of worthwhile projects across America. I can think of no better legacy than a museum that inspires young people to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology," said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. "Also, I'm delighted that the Perot Museum of Nature & Science will be a world-class destination that will attract millions of visitors to Dallas.

 

"Ross Perot Jr. said officials for the Museum of Nature & Science approached the family "about a year ago. My mother started to get real excited. She took a couple of trips to Houston, got all the girls onboard and then talked to Dad. Dad got excited about it, and the momentum built. But it was my mother. She really gets the credit."

At one point during Friday's press conference at the W Hotel, Ross Perot Jr. fought back tears. Later, he said, "I just thought of my parents coming here 50 years ago. They drove into Dallas from Texarkana, didn't know anybody and went to work. Dallas embraced them, and look at how far they've come. It's an amazing community."

Ms. Mulford said she and her siblings had "looked for a long time" for a way to honor their parents, "who have given so much to us and so much to the city. They're both very modest and reluctant to have anything like this named for them ... but I think it's important for their legacy to be memorialized in the city."

When the museum opportunity came along, it "felt perfect," she said, "because it covers education and research and engineering."

The elder Ross Perot demonstrating his and Margot's lifelong passion for education, particularly in the sciences, as seen in this excerpt:

"We know we need more engineers in our country," he said. "I want to make one clear point: Go to any of our most advanced engineering universities and check to see who's getting the Ph.D.s in engineering. I'm glad you're sitting down. Eighty percent come from India and China, 18 percent come from all over the world - I'm up to 98 percent - and 2 percent come from the good ol' USA. Now that is a recipe for disaster."

He said he hoped the new museum would help to reverse the trend by inspiring a new generation of engineers and scientists.

"This will get them to dream," he said. "In our country, you can dream the dream and make the dream come true."

He said he was "honored that my children and grandchildren wanted to do this. And I hope it will inspire young people to reach for the stars, as I was able to do."

The morning concluded when two Dallas ISD high school students and a first-grader from the East Dallas Community School presented flowers to Mrs. Perot and her daughters, expressing their thanks for supporting a museum that will "open our eyes and inspire us to get excited about math, science and technology careers."

News of the Perot children's gift to the Museum of Nature & Science was heavily reported by local media across the country via PR Newswire.  In addition, a headline announcing the gift was featured on Times Square and Las Vegas video billboards.

Comments from the Perot Children

Below are statements made at a May 30, 2008 news conference by the Perot children, who contributed a $50 million to the Museum of Nature & Science in honor of their parents, Margot and H. Ross Perot:

Katherine Perot:
"Mom and Dad place a premium on education and the influence it has on the development of society and innovation. This museum will touch and enrich so many lives, just as Mom and Dad have."

Carolyn Perot Rathjen:
"Mom and Dad came to Dallas with great educations, a lot of love for family and each other, and big dreams. These resources, along with hard work, good timing and a lot of luck blessed our family and literally tens of thousands of others, which is why this gift is such a fitting honor to their service and their success."

Suzanne Perot McGee:
"One of the most precious gifts that Mom and Dad gave us was a desire to always broaden our horizons -- exactly what this wonderful museum will do for Dallas, for North Texas and for all the visitors who come here."

Nancy Perot Mulford:
"It is so compelling to hear how many great researchers, scientists, engineers, doctors, and educators first became interested in their chosen fields as a result of visiting a great museum of science or natural history. It is our hope that this museum can be an inspiration to the next generation of pioneers, discoverers and visionaries."

Ross Perot, Jr.:

"The story of the growth and development of Dallas has been a story of service, sacrifice, innovation and boldness, and Mom and Dad have contributed greatly to that story.  That is why we are so proud to add another chapter to that story with this gift to this wonderful museum in their honor."

 

MNS is an AAM accredited institution that is the result of the merger of the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place, and the Dallas Children's Museum, supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and HP.