If judged by appearance Sam Walton was a very ordinary man. He was raised in the Depression years, and served in the army during World War II. It was he, who from humble beginnings built the world's most admired retail organization.

Sam had a passion to compete and an appetite for adventure. He realized that Wal-Mart needed to do more than offer low prices to be successful - it also had to exceed customers' expectations for quality service. Sam devoted his life to expanding and improving upon this concept. He was also a good motivator of people, because he practiced what he preached. He remained guided by the old-fashioned principles of hard work, honesty, neighborliness and thrift. Even after his death in 1992, those principles continue to guide the company as it expands into other countries and cultures.