Donald Keough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Keough
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Donald Raymond Keough
September 4, 1926 Maurice, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | February 24, 2015 (aged 88) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Creighton University |
| Known for | Chief operating officer and a director of The Coca-Cola Company |
| Awards | Presidential Distinguished Service Award |
Donald Raymond Keough (born September 4, 1926 – died February 24, 2015) was an important American businessman. He was known for his long career at The Coca-Cola Company. He also worked with many other big companies like McDonald's and The Home Depot.
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Donald Keough's Career
Donald Keough had a very successful career in business. He started working at The Coca-Cola Company in 1950. He became the president and chief operating officer (COO) in 1981. This meant he helped manage the company's daily operations. He held these important roles until 1993.
His Role at Coca-Cola
From 1986 to 1993, Mr. Keough was also the Chairman of the Board for Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. This is the largest system that bottles Coca-Cola products around the world. He also served as Chairman of Columbia Pictures, Inc., from 1985 to 1989.
The "New Coke" Story
Donald Keough is perhaps best known for his part in the "New Coke" event in 1985. Coca-Cola decided to change its original recipe. This new drink was called "New Coke." However, many people did not like the change. There was a lot of negative feedback from customers. Mr. Keough played a big role in convincing the CEO, Roberto Goizueta, to bring back the original Coca-Cola. This happened less than three months after "New Coke" was launched.
After Coca-Cola
After leaving Coca-Cola in 1993, Mr. Keough became the Chairman of the Board for Allen & Company LLC. This is an investment banking firm in New York. He also served on the boards of several other well-known companies. These included Berkshire Hathaway, McDonald's Corporation, The Washington Post Company, and The Home Depot.
Life and Honors
Donald Keough was born in Maurice, Iowa. He received many special honors throughout his life. He earned honorary doctorates from several universities. These included his own university, Creighton University, and the University of Notre Dame. He also received an honorary degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Special Awards
In 1993, the University of Notre Dame gave him its highest honor, the Laetare Medal. He was also named Irish America magazine's first Irish-American of the Year in the same year. In 2002, he was chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was also inducted into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame in 2003.
Irish Citizenship
In 2007, he was given honorary Irish citizenship by Mary McAleese, who was the President of Ireland at the time. In 2010, he was the first person to be inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame. The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, gave him the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2013. This award honors important members of the Irish community living outside Ireland.
Family and Legacy
Donald Keough was married to Marilyn Keough for 65 years. Keough Hall at the University of Notre Dame is named after her. Donald Keough passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 24, 2015, at the age of 88. Marilyn passed away in October 2016.
