PLANO, Texas – To officially commemorate EDS' 40th anniversary, EDS Vice Chairman Paul Chiapparone will rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, June 28. This year marks Mr. Chiapparone's 36th year with the company. Since its founding June 27, 1962, EDS has grown into a $21.5 billion enterprise with more than 140,000 employees and business in 60 countries. IT now supports more than 35,000 business and government clients around the world. "I'm tremendously proud of EDS' countless achievements, all made possible by the unceasing innovation, commitment and spirit of our people over these first 40 years," EDS Chairman and CEO Dick Brown said. The company began operations without any computers of its own, using the idle time on other companies' computers to process data for EDS' customers. It acquired its first computer in 1965 and opened its first data center in 1967. EDS' signed its first contract in 1962 with Iowa-based Collins Radio. The following year, EDS and Frito Lay made IT services history with the first facilities management contract.