Early Life
Darwin Albert Deason was born on May 18, 1940, in Rogers, Arkansas. He grew up on a farm, instilling in him a strong work ethic and a drive for success. After graduating from Rogers High School, Deason left his small town with $50 and a 1949 Pontiac, heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Career Beginnings
In Tulsa, Deason worked for Gulf Oil before entering the data processing field. His career took a pivotal turn when he took control of a struggling subsidiary of a Dallas company. He renamed the company MTech. At the young age of 29, Deason was CEO of MTech. He later sold MTech in 1988.
Rise to Success: Affiliated Computer Services (ACS)
Following the sale of MTech, Deason founded Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) in 1988. ACS provided computer and business process services. Deason took ACS public in 1994. Under his leadership, ACS expanded, becoming a global powerhouse in IT services and business process outsourcing. Some of ACS’s clients included E-ZPass, 7-Eleven, and UPS.
The Xerox Acquisition and Beyond
In 2010, Xerox Corporation acquired ACS for $6.4 billion. After the sale, Deason became Xerox's largest individual shareholder. However, the transition wasn't without challenges; Deason later sued Xerox regarding a restructuring plan.
Philanthropy
Deason was also a generous philanthropist. Through The Deason Foundation, he supported numerous causes including criminal justice reform, cybersecurity, and education. Donations included $3.5 million to establish the Deason Family Criminal Justice Reform Center and $7.75 million to create the Deason Institute for Cyber Security. In 2024, The Deason Foundation received SMU's Mustang Award for extraordinary philanthropy.