Bob J. Perry
Encyclopedia
Bobby Jack Perry (born October 30, 1932), is a Houston, Texas
homebuilder, owner of Perry Homes, and major contributor to a number of 527 group
s, such as the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth
and the Economic Freedom Fund
.
, northwest of Waco
. He attended Baylor University
in Waco, where his father, W.C. Perry, completed a public school teaching career as vice president of student affairs. Perry graduated from Baylor in 1954 with a major in history.
He and his wife, Doylene, have been married since 1961. They have four grown children. She is a professor at San Jacinto College
.
Perry Homes, is a construction company that has built developments comparable to those of the company Toll Brothers
. In 2003, the privately held company ranked as the nation's 42nd largest home builder with $420 million in revenue.
(formerly Swift Boat Veterans for Truth), a 527 group; he was the largest single donor.
In that cycle, Perry also donated $3 million to Progress for America Voter Fund. In all, he donated almost $8.1 million to 527 groups in 2003-2004.
In mid-2006, Perry donated $5 million to found a new 527 group, the Economic Freedom Fund
. The $5 million makes the group one of the top ten in the 2006 election cycle. He also appears to be the sole donor to Americans for Honesty on Issues
. These groups have primarily paid for negative advertisements targeting Democratic Party
candidates in the 2006 United States general election.
In 2010, Perry donated $7 million to the 527 group American Crossroads
, making it the largest single donation that the organization has received to date. American Crossroads primarily works to elect Republican
legislators.
In 2011, Perry donated $2,531,799 to Texas Governor and United States Presidental Candidate Rick Perry (R, TX) toward his Presidential campaign.
Perry gave $165,000 in the 2002 election cycle to Tom DeLay
's Texans for a Republican Majority
political action committee (TRMPAC) giving $165,000 in the 2002 election cycle. In October 2002 Perry and his wife contributed $95,000 to DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority
political action committee (ARMPAC). They also contributed $10,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.
In 2006, Perry was the largest political donor in Texas. His donations included nearly $400,000 to the campaign of GOP Governor Rick Perry
(no relation).
In March 2007, Perry was listed as a member of Mitt Romney
's "Texas Leadership Team", indicating his commitment to contribute to and raise money for Romney's presidential campaign. In December 2007, he donated $200,000 to the Club for Growth
for advertisements against Mike Huckabee
in the Republican primary. In 2008, he donated another $400,000 to the Club for Growth, which used most of it for its campaign against Mark Udall
, the Democratic nominee in the 2008 Colorado election for U.S. Senate.
In September and October 2010, Perry gave $7 million to American Crossroads
, making him the top contributor to one of the main groups dedicated to helping Republicans win control of Congress in the November 2010 election. Perry's donation was nearly half of the group's fundraising in the period.
, joining the CNP Board of Governors in 1982, and serving as vice president of the organization's Executive Committee from 1984-85, as well as being a member of that committee in 1988. He also reportedly was a member of the Board of Directors of the Houston, Texas Chamber of Commerce; on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America; a former citizen member of the state banking board of Texas; and a member the Heritage Club.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
homebuilder, owner of Perry Homes, and major contributor to a number of 527 group
527 group
A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after "Section 527" of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code...
s, such as the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth
Swift Vets and POWs for Truth
Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, formerly known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth , was a political group of United States Swift boat veterans and former prisoners of war of the Vietnam War, formed during the 2004 presidential election campaign for the purpose of opposing John Kerry's candidacy...
and the Economic Freedom Fund
Economic Freedom Fund
The Economic Freedom Fund is a 527 group started in 2006 by Bob J. Perry, with a $5 million donation. Only one person is officially associated with the group: Charles H...
.
Personal life
Perry was born in a one-room house in rural Bosque CountyBosque County, Texas
Bosque County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 17,204. Its county seat is Meridian. Clifton, however, is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of the county. Bosque is named for the Bosque River, which runs through...
, northwest of Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. He attended Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in Waco, where his father, W.C. Perry, completed a public school teaching career as vice president of student affairs. Perry graduated from Baylor in 1954 with a major in history.
He and his wife, Doylene, have been married since 1961. They have four grown children. She is a professor at San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
.
Career
Upon graduation, Perry followed in his father's footsteps by teaching high school. In 1968, at 36, he started his homebuilding business, Perry Homes, in Houston.Perry Homes, is a construction company that has built developments comparable to those of the company Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers is a Horsham, Pennsylvania based luxury homes builder.-Company Overview:Toll Brothers is a residential and commercial real estate development company with communities in 50 markets throughout 19 states...
. In 2003, the privately held company ranked as the nation's 42nd largest home builder with $420 million in revenue.
527 groups
In the 2004 election cycle, Perry gave $4.45 million to Swift Vets and POWs for TruthSwift Vets and POWs for Truth
Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, formerly known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth , was a political group of United States Swift boat veterans and former prisoners of war of the Vietnam War, formed during the 2004 presidential election campaign for the purpose of opposing John Kerry's candidacy...
(formerly Swift Boat Veterans for Truth), a 527 group; he was the largest single donor.
In that cycle, Perry also donated $3 million to Progress for America Voter Fund. In all, he donated almost $8.1 million to 527 groups in 2003-2004.
In mid-2006, Perry donated $5 million to found a new 527 group, the Economic Freedom Fund
Economic Freedom Fund
The Economic Freedom Fund is a 527 group started in 2006 by Bob J. Perry, with a $5 million donation. Only one person is officially associated with the group: Charles H...
. The $5 million makes the group one of the top ten in the 2006 election cycle. He also appears to be the sole donor to Americans for Honesty on Issues
Americans for Honesty on Issues
Americans for Honesty on Issues is a Houston, Texas based 527 group that, , has spent over one million dollars on television advertisements, critical of Democratic Party candidates, in advance of the 2006 United States general election. 527 groups are tax-exempt organizations that participate in...
. These groups have primarily paid for negative advertisements targeting Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidates in the 2006 United States general election.
In 2010, Perry donated $7 million to the 527 group American Crossroads
American Crossroads
American Crossroads is a 527 organization that has raised and spent tens of millions of dollars to defend and elect Republican candidates to federal office, and was very active in the 2010 U.S. midterm elections. Its president is Steven J. Law, a former United States Deputy Secretary of Labor for...
, making it the largest single donation that the organization has received to date. American Crossroads primarily works to elect Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
legislators.
In 2011, Perry donated $2,531,799 to Texas Governor and United States Presidental Candidate Rick Perry (R, TX) toward his Presidential campaign.
Other
Perry contributed $46,000 to George W. Bush’s 1994 and 1998 campaigns for Texas Governor. He was the largest individual contributor to the Texas Republican Party during the 2002 election cycle (calendar 2001 and 2002) giving $905,000.Perry gave $165,000 in the 2002 election cycle to Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
's Texans for a Republican Majority
Texans for a Republican Majority
Texans for a Republican Majority or TRMPAC is a general-purpose political action committee registered with the Texas Ethics Commission. It was founded in 2001 by former Republican Texas U.S. Rep...
political action committee (TRMPAC) giving $165,000 in the 2002 election cycle. In October 2002 Perry and his wife contributed $95,000 to DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority
Americans for a Republican Majority
Americans for a Republican Majority was a political action committee formed by former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and directed by Karl Gallant. On July 7, 2006 ARMPAC reached an agreement with the Federal Election Commission to pay a fine of $115,000 for various violations and to...
political action committee (ARMPAC). They also contributed $10,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.
In 2006, Perry was the largest political donor in Texas. His donations included nearly $400,000 to the campaign of GOP Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
(no relation).
In March 2007, Perry was listed as a member of Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's "Texas Leadership Team", indicating his commitment to contribute to and raise money for Romney's presidential campaign. In December 2007, he donated $200,000 to the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
for advertisements against Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
in the Republican primary. In 2008, he donated another $400,000 to the Club for Growth, which used most of it for its campaign against Mark Udall
Mark Udall
Mark Emery Udall is the senior United States Senator from Colorado and a member of the Democratic Party. From 1999 to 2009, Udall served in the United States House of Representatives, representing . He also served a term in the Colorado House of Representatives.Born in Tucson, Arizona, he is the...
, the Democratic nominee in the 2008 Colorado election for U.S. Senate.
In September and October 2010, Perry gave $7 million to American Crossroads
American Crossroads
American Crossroads is a 527 organization that has raised and spent tens of millions of dollars to defend and elect Republican candidates to federal office, and was very active in the 2010 U.S. midterm elections. Its president is Steven J. Law, a former United States Deputy Secretary of Labor for...
, making him the top contributor to one of the main groups dedicated to helping Republicans win control of Congress in the November 2010 election. Perry's donation was nearly half of the group's fundraising in the period.
Memberships
Perry is reportedly a member of the Council for National PolicyCouncil for National Policy
The Council for National Policy , is an umbrella organization and networking group for social conservative activists in the United States...
, joining the CNP Board of Governors in 1982, and serving as vice president of the organization's Executive Committee from 1984-85, as well as being a member of that committee in 1988. He also reportedly was a member of the Board of Directors of the Houston, Texas Chamber of Commerce; on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America; a former citizen member of the state banking board of Texas; and a member the Heritage Club.
Further reading
- "The Quiet Republican: Backer of Anti-Kerry Veterans Groups Eschews the Limelight," Kristen Hays, the Associated Press, August 29, 2004.
- "The Public's Right To 'No'," Andrew Wheat, The Texas Observer, April 7, 2006. Article on check given by Perry to Bill Ceverha of Texans for a Republican MajorityTexans for a Republican MajorityTexans for a Republican Majority or TRMPAC is a general-purpose political action committee registered with the Texas Ethics Commission. It was founded in 2001 by former Republican Texas U.S. Rep...
. - Chart: "Ceverha Patrons Beecherl & Perry Gave $1.9 Million To the Politicians Who Appointed Texas' Ethics Czars," The Texas Observer, April 7, 2006. Shows donations by Bob Perry and Louis A. Beecherl Jr.
