In 1921, Thomas Woodrow Harvey was the only son born into a poor tenant farmer's family. While helping his family of six make ends meet, he vowed he would never have this kind of life for his family. Harvey's father always emphasized the importance of him getting an education, knowing that his children would have better opportunities with a high school degree. Not only did Harvey surpass those expectations, but he graduated with an engineering degree from Virginia Tech, served as a pilot during World War II, and worked his way to the top of the corporate world.