Sonny Perdue, also known as George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III, is a veterinarian, entrepreneur and politician in the United States of America. George was the 31st US Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. He was even the 81st Governor of Georgia, in that position from 2003 to 2011.
Fast facts
| Famous name: | Sonny Perdue |
| Real name/Full name: | George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III |
| Sex: | Male |
| Age: | 76 years old |
| Date of birth: | December 20, 1946 |
| Birth place: | Perry, Georgia, United States of America |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Weight: | 68 kg |
| Sexual orientation: | Straight |
| Marriage status: | Married |
| Wife/spouse (name): | Mary Ruff (m. 1972) |
| Children/children (son and daughter): | Yes (Jim Perdue, Lara Ghioto, Dan Perdue, Leigh Perdue Brett) |
| Date/Girlfriend (Name): | ON |
| Is Sonny Perdue gay?: | Not |
| Profession: | Veterinarian, businessman, politician |
| Salary: | 750 thousand dollars |
| Net worth in 2023: | 6 million dollars |
Biography of Sonny Perdue
Sonny Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia. Ophie Viola and George Ervin Perdue Jr. were his parents when he was born. His mother worked as a teacher, and his father was a farmer by profession. Interestingly, George is the first cousin of former US Senator David Perdue.
George attended Warner Robins High School and the University of Georgia for his education. In 1971, he graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. George initially worked as a veterinarian.
Sonny Perdue Age, Height, Weight
Sonny Perdue was born on December 20, 1946 and is 76 years old as of 2023. He is 1.72 meters tall and weighs 68 kilograms.
Career
Sonny Perdue was elected to the Senate in 1990, representing the 18th district. As a state senator, he began his career that way. George was elected as a Democrat in 1991, 1994 and 1996, and was the leader of the party’s Senate from 1994 to 1997.
Soon after, he was promoted to chairman of the board, with additional responsibilities in areas such as ethics, finance and utilities, tourism and cultural affairs, economic growth, and so on. George changed his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 1998. In the same year, he was elected to the state Senate (this time as a Republican).
George decided it was time to step down as a state senator and run for governor of Georgia. He was promoted to governor in 2002. As governor, George made significant progress. He worked on a number of different economic issues. In 2003, the governor issued an executive order banning public employees, including himself, from accepting gifts worth more than $25. He even tried to improve the tourism department. He raised a $19 million fishing tourism campaign called Go Fish Georgia in 2007.
George also initiated significant educational reforms. Georgia has long ranked last in SAT scores, but has now moved up to 46th and 45th (2007 and 2008, respectively). In 2008, George launched the Ready Georgia program to help Georgia prepare for disasters. The main goal of the program was to prepare the public for any unwanted tragedy. The following year, Georgia was hit by the worst floods in its history. When then-President Donald Trump nominated George to be United States Secretary of Agriculture in 2017, George quickly left the position. During the mandate of the former president, he held that office.
Sonny Perdue Net Worth
The former Secretary of Agriculture has a net worth of approximately $6 million as of December 2023. His net worth increased significantly during his time as a state senator, whether he was a Democrat or a Republican. Furthermore, since he was the former Minister of Agriculture, his net worth has skyrocketed.
Mr. Perdue has committed to improving a number of areas, including education reforms, tourism, cultural affairs and financial affairs, among others. It has even received numerous accolades for providing financial assistance to farmers amid trade conflicts, as well as for its special food distribution program during the pandemic.
Sonny Perdue Wife, Marriage
Sonny Perdue has been seeing Mary Ruff for the past four years. The couple decided to marry in a private ceremony in 1972. According to the latest reports, the couple has four children and fourteen grandchildren. In addition, the couple adopted a large number of children.
George is known for being a sports fan in addition to his professional career. Previously, however, he was involved in a scandal in which he was accused of flying a state helicopter without a license.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education