Marshall Vaughn Perry, a Sand Springs High School graduate from the class of 1937, earned his degree from the Oklahoma School of Accountancy. After graduating, he worked in the Accounting Department of the Mid-Continent Petroleum Company.
Perry served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, participating in the China-Burma-India Theater. Following his discharge, he continued his education at the University of Tulsa. In 1954, he founded Ark Valley Gas Company, Inc., marking a significant milestone in his professional career.