Reporter-News Archives Sunday, August 31, 1997 Millionaire who overcame illiteracy to speak at Abilene literacy luncheon Tom Harken, whose rags-to-riches story included learning to read after he was grown, will speak in Abilene Sept. 16 as part of Literacy Awareness Month. Harken, a Beaumont entrepreneur and recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, will be featured at the Taylor County Adult Literacy Council's Literacy Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. Sept. 16 at the Abilene Civic Center. Tickets, at $12 each, may be reserved by calling 671-4419. "Tom Harken is an outstanding individual who has an incredible story to tell," said the literacy council's Marilyn Flournoy. "I've heard him speak, and people here are in for an inspirational treat. We're extremely fortunate to have him come to Abilene." When Harken was presented the Horatio Alger Award in 1992, along with such luminaries as Henry Kissinger and Maya Angelou, he stunned the audience by revealing he had been an illiterate most of his life. Over a period of several years, his wife Melba taught him to read. Before that, he couldn't even read a story to his children. In fact, he related, he didn't tell his children about his illiteracy until after they were grown. Harken had to overcome other obstacles in his rise to success as a millionaire restaurateur, philanthropist and motivational speaker. As a child he suffered from polio and tuberculosis and spent a year in an iron lung and another year in quarantine. He dropped out of school after falling far behind and joined the Air Force. He began his business career as a vacuum cleaner salesman in Beaumont, but his wife had to fill out his orders at night because he couldn't read. Today he travels around the country telling his story in more than 100 speeches a year. He has been featured in national magazines and television shows and is working on an autobiography.     Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1997, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications