Cain grew up in Georgia and graduated from Morehouse College in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.[7] Cain pursued graduate studies at Purdue University, and graduated with a Master of Science in computer science in 1971,[8] while also working full-time for the U.S. Department of the Navy.[9][10][11] In 1977, he joined Pillsbury Company where he later became vice president.[12] During the 1980s, his success as a business executive at Burger King prompted Pillsbury Company to appoint him as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza, in which capacity he served from 1986 to 1996.[13]
Cain was chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Omaha Branch from 1989 to 1991.[14] He was deputy chairman, from 1992 to 1994, and chairman from 1995 to 1996, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.[14] In 1995, Cain was appointed by Newt Gingrich to the Kemp Commission,[15] and was a senior economic advisor to the Bob Dole presidential campaign.[16] Cain became the CEO of the National Restaurant Association,[17] in which he served as president and CEO from 1996 to 1999.[17][18] During the Presidency of Bill Clinton, Cain publicly opposed the Clinton health care plan of 1993, about which he questioned the president at a town hall meeting.[19] Cain has served as a member of the board of directors of several companies, including Aquila, Inc., Nabisco, Whirlpool, Reader's Digest, and AGCO.[13][20][21]