Personal Life and Education
Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia. He currently lives in Bonaire, an unincorporated area between Perry and Warner Robins. His father was a farmer and his mother was a teacher. Perdue has been known as Sonny since childhood and prefers to be called by that name (he was sworn in and signs official documents as "Sonny Perdue").
Perdue played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia, where he was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Beta-Lambda chapter).
Perdue served in the Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain before his discharge.
In 1971 he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and worked as a veterinarian before becoming a small business owner, eventually starting three small businesses.
Perdue and his wife, Mary, were married in 1972. They have four children (two boys and two girls) and ten grandchildren (five boys and five girls, the most recent granddaughter was born on June 18, 2008 and the Governor made an announcement via official press release), and have also been foster parents for eight children.
In addition to flying, Perdue is also an avid sportsman.
Perdue made a cameo appearance as an East Carolina football coach in the movie We Are Marshall, large portions of which were filmed in Georgia.
Read more about this topic: Sonny Perdue
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