Preston Caruthers was born in 1927 in Covington, Oklahoma. In the midst of economic disaster, Caruthers’ family struggled financially during his childhood. However, Caruthers’ determination and entrepreneurial spirit led him to found his own company, Preston Construction Corporation, in 1950.

Caruthers has given back to his community throughout his life. He is a champion of educational organizations, such as The Fund for American Studies, which he has supported since 2004. Caruthers is not a high-school or a college graduate, but he truly values education. The public library was a source of joy in his challenged upbringing. “Perhaps as much as anything else, those books opened my eyes and mind to a better life elsewhere,” Caruthers stated.