Morton H. Meyerson, a longtime business leader and arts supporter who grew up in Fort Worth, has died at 87, following an illness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meyerson, who graduated from R.L. Paschal High School in 1956, had several lifelong friends in Fort Worth though he spent much of his life in Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMort Meyerson is the best,\u201d lifetime friends Gordon and Louise Appleman said in a statement. \u201cSuccinct, forthright and honest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the business world, Meyerson was a driving force behind H.Ross Perot Sr. and the development of computer services giant Electronic Data Systems, better known as EDS, as well as in Perot\u2019s other ventures, including his 1992 run for president.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s best known in the arts for the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas which opened in 1989. Meyerson led the effort to raise the $100 million for the project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meyerson attended the University of Texas at Austin earning a bBachelor of aArts in economics and philosophy. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2005.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, learning the emerging science of computer technology, which served him well in his ventures with Perot. He began his business career at helicopter manufacturer Bell as a data processing engineer before joining EDS as a systems engineer.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s, Meyerson played a significant role in the sale of EDS to General Motors, becoming GM\u2019s chief technology officer.\u00a0 He left GM to focus on private investing, working closely with Fort Worth\u2019s Richard Rainwater, a fellow Paschal graduate, and coaching Michael Dell during the formative period of Dell Computer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 1992, he and Perot teamed up again, becoming chair and CEO of Perot Systems and leading it to $1 billion in revenue.<\/p>\n
Meyerson was also an influence on Hillwood founder Ross Perot Jr., who remembers meeting him when his father brought his son to weekend meetings at EDS in the 1960s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven then, Mort stood out because he never thought inside the box,\u201d Perot said in a statement. \u201cOver the years, I had the privilege of working with Mort at EDS, during the 1992 presidential campaign, and later at Perot Systems. He was instrumental to our success, especially when he led our expansion into India in the mid-1990s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meyerson\u2019s involvement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra began in 1975 when retailer Stanley Marcus asked the EDS executive for a donation from the company, according to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra website.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meyerson made the gift and was invited to join the board shortly after. Few then knew the businessman\u2019s musical background.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mother was a piano player and singer. Meyerson began singing at age 3 and started piano lessons at age 4. At the UT, he sang in the a cappella chorus.<\/p>\n
Meyerson spent 10 years spearheading the building of the symphony\u2019s home that would bear his name.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Dallas, the symphony center that bears his name reflects a larger legacy of civic leadership and generosity,\u201d Perot said. \u201cOn behalf of our family, I\u2019m grateful for his decades of partnership and friendship.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meyerson was a believer in the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah \u2014\u2013 the Hebrew word for the obligation to help others. On the webpage of his family office, 2M Companies, he said they believed that \u201cthe profits from our businesses and our investments are shared with our employees and our communities, and directly support the giving capacities of our foundations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meyerson was elected to the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene Nathan Meyerson, and his son, David Nathan Meyerson.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Memorial details have not yet been released.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750614464_36_cc-by-nd-4.0.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n