Ross Perot to Host Opening Coin Toss at the 2009 EagleBank Bowl

The EagleBank Bowl announced today that Ross Perot will serve as the Honorary Host for the coin toss to open this year’s game, featuring the UCLA Bruins versus the Temple Owls.

This year’s EagleBank Bowl is set for 4:30 pm on Tuesday, December 29, at RFK Stadium, with ESPN and Federal News Radio 1500 AM to broadcast the game live.

With more than 50 years of service to our country and support for the military, Mr. Perot is a true American Patriot. As a former officer in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Perot has been a leading source of support for the nation’s wounded warriors involved in military engagements around the world, including veterans from the Gulf War, the Vietnam War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

“Ross Perot’s dedication and commitment to our nation and military has been well documented, and we are honored he has decided to lend his support to the EagleBank Bowl,” says Steve Beck, executive director of the EagleBank Bowl. “His participation will help raise awareness of the game and its mission, which in turn will help us support our charitable partner, the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides much-needed aid to severely injured service members.”

Entering the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1949, Perot subsequently helped establish the Naval Honor Code and served as his class president. Following his naval service, Mr. Perot worked as a salesman for IBM before he founded Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962 with a $1,000.00 loan from his wife. He subsequently built EDS into one of the world’s largest technology services firms, which he eventually sold to General Motors.

In 1988, Perot founded a new technology services company, Perot Systems Corp., where he served as Chairman Emeritus until November 2009, when it was acquired by Dell Inc.

“I am honored to participate in this year’s EagleBank Bowl, which is dedicated to the noble men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to protect our nation and our freedoms,” Perot says. “I can think of no greater cause than supporting our men and women in uniform, and I am looking forward to a great day of football and celebration in our nation’s capital.”