John Moores

John Moores "is a business leader, prolific philanthropist, devoted family man, and committed volunteer trustee of numerous institutions, including the regents of the University of California, the Scripps Research Institute, and The Carter Center.

"Mr. Moores is a native of Texas and received both a bachelor's and law degree from the University of Houston. Mr. Moores worked as a computer programmer for several companies, including IBM and Shell Oil, while completing his education.

"In 1980, Mr. Moores founded BMC Software. He wrote software products at BMC that improved mainframe computer operating system performance and built BMC into a significant factor in the software industry. He served as chief executive officer of BMC until 1987, and chairman until 1992.

"Mr. Moores continues to be active in providing his creative talents for the development of computer software for many start-up software companies. Currently, he is chairman of the San Diego Padres Baseball Club, which he acquired in 1994.

"Mr. Moores founded the River Blindness Foundation in 1989 to distribute a treatment for that disease in developing countries, principally in sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation was absorbed into The Carter Center in 1997.

"In addition to major gifts to the University of California at San Diego, San Diego State University, the University of Houston, the Scripps Research Institute, and The Carter Center, Mr. Moores has made gifts of more than $1 million to St. Vincent de Paul of San Diego; San Diego Zoo; The Children's Clinic of the Californias, Tijuana, Mexico; San Diego Center for Children, San Diego Unified School District; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; and the American Civil Liberties Union, among other organizations.

"John and Becky Moores have been married since 1963 and have four children and four grandchildren." 


 * Chair, Carter Center Board of Trustees