Robert Crants facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Crants
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| Born | November 17, 1944 |
| Education | Lansing Central High School |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy Harvard Business School |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Co-founder of Corrections Corporation of America |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley Crants |
| Children | 2 sons, including D. Robert Crants, III, 1 daughter |
Robert Crants, born in 1944, is an American businessman. He is known for helping to start a company called Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). This company manages private prisons. He was the main leader of CCA from 1994 to 1999.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Crants was born on November 17, 1944, in Salamanca, New York. His first name was "Doctor," but he usually doesn't use it now. His mother's family was part Seneca, an Indigenous group. He grew up on a Seneca reservation in New York.
He went to Lansing Central High School. Later, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. There, he shared a room with Thomas W. Beasley. Robert Crants served in the military in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. In 1974, he earned two advanced degrees from Harvard Business School.
Business Career
Before starting his own companies, Robert Crants worked as a chief financial officer for a real estate company in Nashville, Tennessee. After that, he started a company called Broadcast Management Services. Through this company, he helped set up several television stations.
Founding Corrections Corporation of America
In 1983, Robert Crants teamed up with his former roommate, Thomas W. Beasley, and T. Don Hutto. Together, they created the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). This company manages prisons that are run by private businesses, not the government.
CCA received early investments from important groups. These included Jack C. Massey, who started Hospital Corporation of America, Vanderbilt University, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Leadership at CCA
Robert Crants first served as the treasurer for CCA. By 1987, he became the president of the company. He was the chairman and chief executive officer from 1994 to 1999.
By 2015, CCA was the largest private prison management company in the United States. In 2016, CCA and another company called Geo Group managed more than 170 prisons and detention centers. CCA's total earnings in 2015 were about $1.79 billion.
Homeland Security Corporation
After the events of September 11, 2001, Robert Crants started another company. He co-founded the Homeland Security Corporation with one of his sons, D. Robert Crants, III. Robert Crants is the chief executive officer of this company.
Personal Life
Robert Crants is married to Shirley Crants. They have two sons and one daughter.
