Donold Lourie
Donold B. Lourie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1899 Decatur, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | 15 January 1990 (aged 90) Wilmette, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, government official, collegiate football player |
| Known for | President of Quaker Oats Company; Under Secretary of State for Administration; College Football Hall of Fame inductee |
Donold B. Lourie (August 22, 1899 – January 15, 1990) was a prominent American entrepreneur, government official, and collegiate football athlete. He held the position of president at the Quaker Oats Company and occupied senior management roles across several corporations. President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him to serve a one-year term within the State Department. During his time at Princeton University, Lourie distinguished himself as a quarterback and earned consensus All-American honors in his junior year. His achievements led to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Early life
Lourie was born in Decatur, Alabama but was raised in Peru, Illinois. He attended LaSalle-Peru High School prior to enrolling at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy. In 1916, he secured a critical touchdown against their rival, Andover, clinching an important victory for Exeter.
Education and college football
At Princeton University, Lourie excelled both on the football field and in track and field events. In 1920, he captured the British AAA Championships title in the long jump. As a football player that same year, he was recognized as a consensus All-American quarterback. One of his standout moments included orchestrating a fake field goal play against Yale, resulting in a touchdown that contributed to Princeton’s 20–0 win and an overall season record of 6–0–1. Renowned sports figure Walter Camp referred to him as "the remarkable little general."
Although an injury sidelined him during part of his senior year in 1921, Lourie was honored with the Poe Memorial Cup for his valuable team contributions. In 1948, he was selected for Princeton’s all-time football team and later received the Gold Medal for lifetime accomplishments in 1964. His legacy was further cemented with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Princeton commemorates his impact through the Donold B. Lourie Award, presented annually to the most outstanding freshman player. He completed his studies as class president in 1922 and declined an offer from the Chicago Bears, choosing instead to remain at Princeton as a backfield coach.
Professional career
Following graduation, Lourie joined the Quaker Oats Company and married Mary Edna King in 1923; their son, Donold K. Lourie, later pursued careers as an attorney, businessman, and novelist. Lourie ascended to the presidency of Quaker Oats in 1947. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower named him Under Secretary of State for Administration, where he spearheaded a reorganization within the department. Returning to Quaker Oats in 1954, he became chief executive officer two years later and chairman by 1961. His board memberships included positions with Illinois Central Industries, International Paper Company, International Harvester, and Northern Trust Company. After retiring in 1970, Lourie relocated to Longwood, Florida. He passed away at age 90 in Wilmette, Illinois in 1990.