Richard Silberman
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Richard T. Silberman is an American businessman and political figure. He was a major investor in the Jack in the Box fast food chain and helped fund its expansion. He then served as an aide and campaign fundraiser for California governor Jerry Brown. In 1990 he pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder purported drug profits.
A native of San Diego, Silberman graduated from San Diego State College with a degree in physics. In 1946 he earned his master's degree from Ohio State University. He led Convair's electronic and computer guided missile program until 1952, when he was named president of Kay Lab.[1] In 1960, Silberman and Charles E. Salik began selling stock in Electronics International Capital, a business based in the tax haven of Bermuda that was formed to invest in European electronics companies. After some poor investments, Silberman hired Paul Erdman to help turn things around. Silberman and Salik were eventually removed from the company in a coup orchestrated by Jerome Kohlberg Jr.[2]
In 1965, Silberman became a general partner of Jack in the Box and helped finance the expansion of the fast food chain. In 1968 the company was sold to Ralston Purina for $58 million.[3][4] Soon thereafter, Silberman and Jack in the Box founder Robert O. Peterson purchased First National Bank. In 1975 the bank was sold to The Bank of Tokyo, which renamed it again as Union Bank.[3][4] After leaving the governor's office, Silberman became a chairman and chief executive officer of Yuba Natural Resources Inc..[3]