Herman Cain American businessman, columnist, radio host and Baptist pastor Date of Birth: 13.12.1945 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Business Career
3. Political and Social Views
4. Candidacy for Presidency
5. Retirement and Health
6. Awards and Recognition

Early Life and Education

Herman Cain was born on December 13, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in a poor but happy family, with his father working multiple jobs and his mother as a cleaner. Cain's mother instilled in him the belief that "success does not begin with material things, but it begins with spiritual things."

Cain attended Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics in 1967. He married Gloria Etchison in 1968 and went on to pursue a Master of Science degree in computer science from Purdue University in 1971.

Business Career

Before entering the business world, Cain worked as a mathematician in ballistics for the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy, he joined Coca-Cola as a computer systems analyst. In 1977, he moved to Minneapolis to work for Pillsbury.

Cain rose through the ranks at Pillsbury, becoming the head of its business analysis department in 1978. In his early 30s, he took over the Burger King division of Pillsbury, overseeing 400 locations in Philadelphia.

Cain's success at Burger King led to his appointment as president and CEO of another Pillsbury subsidiary, Godfather's Pizza. When he took over on April 1, 1986, he famously declared, "I'm Herman Cain, and this is no April Fool's joke. We're not dead. We're here to prove to Pillsbury we can survive."

Cain cut the number of Godfather's Pizza locations from 911 to 420 in 14 months to reduce costs and turned the struggling subsidiary into a profitable enterprise. He left Godfather's Pizza in 1996.

Political and Social Views

Cain is a conservative Republican and a devout Baptist minister. He is known for his outspoken views on various social issues, including his opposition to same-sex marriage and his belief that homosexuality is a sin.

Cain has also expressed strong support for maintaining America's Judeo-Christian identity and has opposed the construction of mosques in the United States.

Candidacy for Presidency

In January 2011, Cain announced the formation of an exploratory committee for a potential run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. He officially declared his candidacy on May 21, 2011.

Retirement and Health

Cain retired from Godfather's Pizza in 1996. He was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer with metastases to the liver in 2006. Although his initial prognosis was poor, he successfully underwent surgery and chemotherapy. His cancer has since been reported to be in remission.

Awards and Recognition

Cain has received the Horatio Alger Award in 1966 for his "dedication, determination, and persistence in overcoming adversity." He has also received honorary degrees from several universities, including the University of Nebraska and Suffolk University.