Samuel Moore Walton was born March 29, 1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

He is well known all over the world as the founder of the American retailer Wal-Mart.

In 1921 he moved with his family from Oklahoma to Missouri.

Walton Grew up through the great depression and did many jobs to help his family meet their financial needs.

After high school, he decided to attend college, and he attended the University of Missouri. He took a degree in economics.

In 1945, after leaving the military, Walton decided he wanted to own a department store but would settle for a variety store. With help from his father-in-law and with the money he saved during the army time, Walton purchased a Ben Franklin variety store in Newport, Arkansas.

Over time, Walton went on to open more Ben Franklin stores, starting a franchisee.

He his worldwide recognise as a manager who always anticipated the times: he was the first business man to offer managers the opportunity to become limited partners if they would invest in the store and this was for them a font of motivation.

In 1962 he opened the first true Wal-Mart store, in Rogers, Arkansas.

Since that year, it has become the world's largest retailer, with more than 2 million of employees and more than 13 million revenue per year.

Walton was married to Helen Robson.

They had five children: Robson "Rob" Walton, John T. Walton, Jim Walton, Brendan Walton, and Alice Walton.

He died in 1992 of cancer, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 74.

He left his ownership in Wal-Mart to his wife and their children.