Kenneth Langone
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Kenneth Langone, co-founder of Home Depot, is a former director of the New York Stock Exchange. He was elected as its director of Yum! Brands effective in October 7, 1997, and is a member of the Audit Committee. Langone is also a trustee of New York University. He is a graduate of Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, PA.
Kenneth Langone was born in Roslyn Heights, New York, 20 miles outside of Manhattan. He was born to working-class parents; his father was a plumber and his mother a cafeteria worker. As a boy Langone witnessed his parent's labor firsthand and the imprint has stuck with him his entire life. As a student at Bucknell University Langone worked various blue collar jobs as butcher's assistant, a caddy and a ditch digger. After graduating in 3.5 years Kenneth Langone headed back to New York, this time Manhattan instead of Roslyn Heights. While working full-time during the day, Langone attended New York University's School of Business at night. His strong work ethic gave him the perseverence to achieve success at both work and school.
Following his NYU graduation Langone began his business career. His launching pad was the IPO deal he set up for Ross Perot's company Electronic Data Systems. The deal cemented Langone's reputation as an intelligent and productive businessman.
Building up his experience over the next decade, Langone began to study the home improvement business and eventually bought stock in Handy Dan; a home improvement chain. After inspecting multiple Handy Dan stores Langone sold his shares and decided to create his own home improvement chain. With former Handy Dan CEO, Bernard Marcus and future Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Langone founded Home Depot. Now a national chain with over 300,000 employees, it is Langone's most notable business venture.
Recently Kenneth Langone has made noise with his attempted purchase of the New York Stock Exchange. Although the deal didn't go through it proved Langone's stature on Wall Street and in the business community in general. Besides business Langone is heavily involved in philanthropy; donating millions of dollars to a wide variety of charities. He is married to his wife Elaine and they have 3 children.
He was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI.
| The Home Depot, Inc. |
| Corporate Directors: Greg Brenneman | Richard H. Brown | John Clendenin | Claudio González | Milledge Hart | Bonnie Hill | Laban Jackson | Lawrence R. Johnston | Ken Langone | Robert Nardelli | Tom Ridge |
| Annual Revenue: .1 billion USD ( 13% FY 2005) | Employees: 325,000 | Stock Symbol: NYSE: [HD] | Website: [www.homedepot.com] |
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