January 2005
Purdue awards honorary doctorate of science to Herman Cain
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University awarded an honorary doctorate of science on Dec. 19 to Herman Cain, business executive and motivations communicator.
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University President Martin C. Jischke presented the degree during a winter commencement ceremony to Cain, who earned a master's degree in computer science from Purdue in 1971. Cain is CEO of T.H.E. Inc., a leadership and solutions company specializing in keynote speaking and publications on the topics of leadership, business and motivation.
Cain, who was born in Memphis, Tenn., and grew up in Atlanta, earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967 as the first person from his family to enter and finish college. Three years later, while working as a civilian for the United States Navy, he enrolled at Purdue and 11 months later earned his master's degree in computer science.
Upon graduating from Purdue, Cain was hired as a systems analyst for Coca-Cola. Within five years, he moved to Pillsbury as vice president for corporate systems and services. By 1978, he moved into Pillsbury's Burger King division and eventually turned its worst-performing region (with 450 restaurants in the Philadelphia area) into its best region in terms of growth, sales and profits.
In 1986, Cain became president of Pillsbury's struggling Godfather's Pizza chain. He trimmed the company by one-third and instituted automated systems. Two years later, he led the chain's executive team in the purchase of Godfather's from Pillsbury, and by the mid-1990s the company's value had doubled.
Cain was selected in 1994 as president of the National Restaurant Association, the food service industry's leading trade organization, putting him in position to testify before Congress and to make numerous appearances as a keynote speaker. He served as a senior adviser to the presidential campaign of Sen. Bob Dole and was a candidate for the 2004 U.S. Senate race in Georgia, where he finished second in the Republican Primary among two sitting congressmen.
Cain is a director of numerous global corporations and serves on several philanthropic boards. He has previously been awarded six honorary doctorates.
Source: University Relations Jim Vruggink, (765) 494-2086, jvruggink@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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