Morton
Meyerson
Early Years
Morton was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1938. He went to Paschal High School, where he played football, wearing #72 like his father before him, and served as president of his senior class. After graduating magna cum laude from Paschal in 1956, Morton left Fort Worth to attend college at The University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, Morton was active in the a cappella choir, the Morris Beachy singers, fraternity life, student government, intramural football and the Texas Cowboys. He also found time to become a licensed pilot. Morton graduated from college in 1961 after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy. In 2005, Morton received The University of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Beginning in 1961, Morton served as an active duty officer in the U.S. Army with an occupational specialty involving automatic data processing. Morton also served in the active reserves from 1963 through 1969.
Business
Morton began his business career in 1963 at Bell Helicopter. In 1966, he joined Electronic Data Systems, Inc. as a systems engineer trainee, ultimately becoming President and Vice Chair and leading 45,000 employees. From 1971 through 1974, Morton served as the Chair and CEO of duPont Glore Forgan, a Wall Street brokerage firm. In 1984, Morton played a significant role in the sale of EDS to General Motors for $2.5 billion and became the chief technology officer at General Motors. Two and a half years after the sale to General Motors, with EDS’s revenue having grown four-fold, Morton retired.
From 1986 through 1992, Morton pursued private investment opportunities with Richard Rainwater and coached Michael Dell in the formative period of Dell Computer. In 1992, Morton re–joined the corporate world as Chair and CEO of Perot Systems. He retired again in 1998.
Currently, Morton and his family oversee 2M Companies, Inc. Morton has been actively engaged in diverse investment activities through 2M and its affiliates since 1985.
Morton was elected into The American Academy of Arts & Sciences 2007 Class of Fellows. The Academy honors distinguished scientists, scholars and leaders in public affairs, business and the arts.
Morton was inducted into The Outsourcing Hall of Fame of the International Association of Outsourcing Professional in February 2013. In 2021 Morton was recognized by two prestigious institutions. He was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame; and he was elected to membership in The Philosophical Society of Texas. In the past, Morton has served on public and private company boards.
Family & Tzedakah
Morton was blessed with three children – Leslie, David and Marti. Leslie and her husband, Rob, and Marti and her husband, Jamie, each have three children. Morton enjoys spending as much time as possible with his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Morton’s son, David, died in 1998, but his legacy is carried on by Morton, Marti, and Leslie, through the Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation. Morton and his family firmly believe in the Jewish philosophy of Tzedakah—the Hebrew word for the obligation to help others, and they pursue Tzedakah projects through the Foundation. Morton devotes substantial time, effort and resources to the Foundation as the head of the board of trustees and is also an avid student of Judaism and Jewish history.
Arts
Morton’s musical interests were influenced by his mother during his early childhood, took shape during his formative years and college years with choral singing, and reached new heights when he chaired the committee overseeing the development of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center opened in September of 1989 (The Mort: Mort Meyerson Gets Recruited) and has been a crossroads of artistic excellence ever since. In 1996, Morton joined the Dallas Symphony Chorus.
Morton also surrounds himself with incredible works of architecture – the flavor of which is undeniably eclectic. Morton’s home – known as “The Power House” – is a world of rich architecture where industrial style is uniquely preserved in a manner that somehow also exudes the warmth of a home.
And his office, located along the Katy Trail, is also architecturally unique. Designed to resemble a prefabricated shed clad in copper, it also feels distinctly industrial and distinctly Morton.
Community Activity and Affiliations
Morton currently serves on the board of the Dallas Symphony Association. In prior years, Morton has been involved with a variety of organizations, including:
- Vice Chairman—The National Park Foundation
- Chairman—Dallas Symphony Association New Building Committee
- Chairman, Texas—National Research Laboratory Super Conducting Super Collider Project Commission
- Member—Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College
- Director—Japan Society USA
- Director—Dallas Museum of Art
- Director—Harry Ransom Center for Humanities Studies at The University of Texas at Austin
- Bass Singer—The Morris Beachy Singers and The Dallas Symphony Chorus