William Coors
William Kistler Coors | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 August 1916 Golden, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | 13 October 2018 (aged 102) |
| Occupation | Brewing executive |
| Years active | 1939–2003 |
| Known for | Board member and executive of Coors Brewing Company; development of recyclable aluminum can |
William Kistler Coors (August 11, 1916 – October 13, 2018) was a prominent American executive within the Coors Brewing Company. His association with the firm spanned more than six decades, and he held a position on its board from 1973 until 2003. He was a direct descendant of Adolph Coors (1847–1929), the original founder of the brewery.
Biography
Coors was born in Golden, Colorado as the son of Adolph Coors II and Alice Kistler May. He had two brothers, Adolph Coors III and Joseph Coors Sr. He completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University in 1938 and earned a master's degree in chemical engineering the following year.
He fathered three daughters with his first wife, Geraldine, who battled alcoholism before her passing. In the 1960s, he remarried Phyllis, and together they had a son named Scott. His eldest daughter, Geraldine, died by suicide in 1983 after enduring depression.
At age 58 in 1974, Coors undertook a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, an experience that motivated him to found the Coors Wellness Center in 1981, aimed at supporting employees and retirees of the company.
In recognition of his achievements, he was honored with the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement in 1981 and later hosted its Achievement Summit in Denver in 1985.
Coors celebrated his centennial birthday in August 2016 and died at the age of 102 on October 13, 2018.
Career
Beginning his tenure at Coors Brewing Company in 1939 as a chemical engineer, William Coors became known for his contributions to packaging and engineering advancements. He notably spearheaded the development of the recyclable two-piece aluminum can, which has become an industry benchmark. During the 1950s, he secured $250,000 from CEO Adolph Coors Jr. to initiate experimental production lines for aluminum cans. By the early 1960s, the company introduced a one-cent deposit incentive for returned cans to encourage recycling efforts.
He was appointed to the board of directors in 1973. Following the separation of non-brewing operations into ACX Technologies Inc. in 1992, Coors served as chairman for both entities. Although he retired from board duties in 2003 at age 87, he continued to act as chief technical adviser.
Political views
William Coors’s political stance was generally more moderate compared to that of his brother Joe. For instance, William was an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment, whereas Joe publicly opposed it, attracting criticism from feminist groups.
Accusations of racism
In 1984, Coors encountered controversy due to comments made during a Minority Business Development Center seminar. He controversially suggested that African Americans might consider returning to their ancestral homelands and attributed economic challenges in Africa to "a lack of intellectual capacity." He later issued an apology for his "unfortunate choice of words and lack of sensitivity," reaffirming his dedication to minority communities. Subsequently, Coors filed a libel lawsuit against the Rocky Mountain News over their reporting.
The NAACP called for a boycott of Coors products, joining an existing AFL–CIO boycott related to labor issues. Approximately 500 liquor stores in Southern California participated before suspending their boycott after reaching agreements with the company. In response, Adolph Coors Company pledged $325 million over five years toward initiatives benefiting black communities, including investments in black-owned banks and allocating $8.8 million for advertising through black-owned media outlets. A comparable $300 million commitment was later established with Hispanic organizations such as American GI Forum and La Raza, marking La Raza’s inaugural corporate partnership.
In 1987, Coors withdrew his libel action after the Rocky Mountain News published an article highlighting his positive engagement with minority groups and expressing regret over previous coverage.
Positions held
- President – Coors Brewing Company
- Chairman – Coors Brewing Company
- President – Castle Rock Foundation
- Founding Member – The Future 500
- Honorary Chairman – SEED
- Trustee – Colorado School of Mines
External links
- Baum, Dan. Citizen Coors: A Grand Family Saga of Business, Politics, and Beer. New York: HarperCollins, 2000.