John T. Walton facts for kids

John Thomas Walton (born October 8, 1946 – died June 27, 2005) was an American war hero and a son of Walmart's founder, Sam Walton. He led a company called True North Venture Partners, which helps new businesses grow. John Walton also helped start the Children's Scholarship Fund. This fund gives money to help kids from families with lower incomes go to private schools.

John Walton's Early Life and Military Service

John Walton was born in Newport, Arkansas. He went to Bentonville High School, where he was a great football player. After high school, he attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.

In 1968, John left college to play the flute more. He then joined the U.S. Army after the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.

Serving in the Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, Walton was part of the Green Berets. He served with a special group called the Studies and Observations Group. He fought in places like the A Shau Valley and Laos.

In his unit, "Spike Team Louisiana," he was a medic and second-in-command. For his bravery in combat, John Walton received the Silver Star medal.

John Walton's Later Adventures

After returning from Vietnam, John learned to fly airplanes. He first worked as a pilot for Walmart. Later, he left Walmart to fly planes that sprayed crops over cotton fields.

He also helped start a company called Satloc. This company was a pioneer in using GPS technology for crop-dusting planes. John then moved to San Diego. There, he started Corsair Marine, a company that built special sailboats called trimarans.

Hobbies and Philanthropy

John Walton also lived in Durango, Colorado. He loved outdoor activities. He was an enthusiastic skier, mountain biker, hiker, and motorcycle rider. He also enjoyed skydiving and scuba diving.

In 1998, John Walton and his friend Ted Forstmann started the Children's Scholarship Fund. This fund helps low-income families pay for their children to attend private schools. He strongly supported school vouchers, which are like coupons for education. For his work, he received the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership.

John Walton's Death

Wreckage of Walton's experimental aircraft at Grand Teton National Park. Photo taken by the National Park Service on June 27, 2005.

John Walton died on June 27, 2005. He was flying a special home-built plane called a CGS Hawk Arrow. This plane crashed in Jackson, Wyoming, shortly after taking off from Jackson Hole Airport.

Investigators later found that a part of the plane's control system was not put back correctly. This caused him to lose control of the plane's altitude during the flight.

Before he passed away, Forbes magazine estimated John Walton's wealth. He was one of the richest people in the United States and the world.

John Walton was survived by his wife, Christy Walton, and their son, Lukas Walton. He had two brothers, S. Robson Walton and Jim Walton, and a sister, Alice Walton. He had been married before to Mary Ann Gunn.

See also

In Spanish: John T. Walton para niños

• Forbes list of billionaires (2004)
• Walton family