Jul 31, 2025 — Carl Jansen: Ross Perot & EDS

Bulletin for July 31, 2025

Featured Speaker: Carl Jansen

A Career at EDS, Ross Perot, and Life in Big Business

OPENING

The meeting began with a prayer led by Benny. Kathy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Integrity is when you do the right thing when no one is watching."

— Charles C. Hagemeister, US Army, Medal of Honor

CLUB BUSINESS

Upcoming Events

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build — Saturday, October 4 from 10am–1pm

• Colorado camp advertising tasks, including sourcing a Pikes Peak Club logo

• Christmas party venue still to be determined

• Joe Reagan's campaign announcement party on August 14th — Frank will forward the invite

London TheaterWorks

Scheduled January 9th through 18th. Three members — including Nikki and LT — expressed interest. The trip focuses on the theater world, but London's art galleries are always a highlight of these tours.

Tributes and Remembrances

Members shared tributes to former members, including the passing of Bob Gladden and reminiscences about Clint Keller — a great guy, football coach, and owner of a Ready Mix transit company. Keller was remembered as a 'great president' who was serious in meetings but kind outside of them.

Long-standing members shared their joining dates: Mr. Wilhelm (80s), Dana (82), Zerbe (87, from Zerbe Jewelers), and Skip (99).

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: CARL JANSEN

Carl Jansen delivered a sweeping personal biography covering his graduation in 1968 — when he was part of the first class to beat both Army and Navy in the same year — through a distinguished career at EDS alongside Ross Perot.

Military Service

Carl flew the C-123 in Vietnam and served as a training officer in the Air Force in Saudi Arabia for two years. Returning in 1978, he found himself without a job and was nearly driving for FedEx before EDS hired him.

Life at EDS with Ross Perot

Carl described the legendary interview process at EDS — including buying polyester suits — and his close working relationship with Ross Perot, whose offices were next to each other on the top floor. Carl helped plan the Legacy Project in Plano, Texas: 3,500 acres that would become home to J.C. Penney, Frito-Lay, and Toyota campuses. EDS was eventually sold to General Motors for $12.5 billion in 1984.

Crisis in Iran

During the Iranian revolution, EDS had over a hundred employees and their families in Tehran. When the company stopped getting paid, they extracted their personnel in a high-stakes operation chronicled in Ken Follett's book On Wings of Eagles . Ross Perot personally flew to Tehran in disguise to support his imprisoned colleagues, and hired legendary soldier Bull Simon to lead the extraction.

Leadership and Legacy

Carl shared reflections on loyalty, leadership, and Ross Perot's political ambitions. He later took early retirement from BP at age 52. His career spanned military service, corporate real estate, synthetic fuels, and major infrastructure development.

"Life is a living experience, only if you learn."

— Yogi Berra

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