John Jay Moores (born 1944) is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and former owner of the San Diego Padres.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Moores was raised in Houston, Texas in a middle class neighborhood. He left Texas A&M University before graduating and became a programmer for IBM. Later, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree—both from the University of Houston.

[edit] Business

He founded BMC Software in Texas in 1980 and was the lead venture capital financier for Peregrine Systems in California starting in 1981. He served as a director of Peregrine from March 1989 to March 2003 and as Chairman of the Board from March 1990 through July 2000 and from May 2002 through March 2003, during which he cashed out between US$600 and US$630 million in Peregrine stock.^[1][2] He resigned as Peregrine chairman in February 2003 as part of the company's Chapter 11 reorganization. He also founded JMI Equity. In 1994 Moores purchased the San Diego Padres professional baseball team from Tom Werner. He later sold his share to Jeff Moorad (former sports agent and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks).

[edit] Philanthropy and activism

Organizations that Moores has supported include the ACLU, the San Diego Zoo, San Diego State University, the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Center for Children, St. Vincent de Paul Villages, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and The Scripps Research Institute where Moores sits on the board.

His 1991 contribution of US$51 million to the University of Houston was the largest in U.S. history to a public university. He served on the University of Houston System Board of Regents from 1991 to 1994. Among many other philanthropic efforts, John and Becky Moores donated US$21 million to establish the John and Rebecca Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego and over US$20 million to San Diego State University.^[3] In 1999 he was appointed Regent of the University of California by Governor Gray Davis until he resigned for unknown reasons in 2007. As UC regent, he worked to make sure Proposition 209 (passed in 1996) was implemented. In 2005 he was elected chair of the Carter Center at Emory University, succeeding Jimmy Carter.

Moores is also the founder of the River Blindness Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to research and treatment of Onchocerciasis, the second cause of infectious blindness.^[4]

[edit] Personal life

John and Becky Moores met in a high school history class in Texas and married in 1963. They have four adult children, two biological and two adoptive. .

In February 2008, Moores' wife Becky filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. As part of potential settlement in the divorce, it was reported that Moores is prepared to part with the family home on a golf course at Pebble Beach, California.^[3] The property is overlooking the Pacific and the 18th fairway of one of the world's most glorious golf courses. The divorce also prompted a major overhaul of the roster at the San Diego Padres and then a sale of a large portion of the Moores' interest in the Padres. Associates say since the filing for divorce, Moores now spends most of his time in Texas and rarely attends Padres and San Diego State games.^[5]

[edit] Honours and awards

• 1996: Donor of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors
• 1997: San Diego Jackie Robinson YMCA Human Dignity Award

[edit] See also

• Moores School of Music

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• University of Houston - biography
• "Batting Cleanup", San Diego Metropolitan (Sept. 1996) by Ron Donoho Cover story about John Moores
• Alan Zarembo, "Putting Them to the Test", Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2006.