Donold Lourie facts for kids
Donold Lourie in 1920
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| Princeton Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | August 22, 1899 Decatur, Alabama |
| Died: | January 15, 1990 (aged 90) Wilmette, Illinois |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 164 lb (74 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | Princeton (1920–1921) |
| High school | LaSalle-Peru High School Phillips Exeter Academy |
| College Football Hall of Fame (1974) | |
Donold B. Lourie (born August 22, 1899 – died January 15, 1990) was an important American businessman and government official. He was also a talented college football player. Lourie was the president of the Quaker Oats Company for many years. He also held other top jobs in business.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Lourie for a role in the State Department. He worked there for one year. Lourie went to Princeton University. There, he was a star quarterback on the football team. He was named an All-American in 1920. This means he was one of the best players in the country. Lourie was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Early Life and School Days
Donold Lourie was born on August 22, 1899, in Decatur, Alabama. He grew up in Peru, Illinois. There, he went to LaSalle-Peru High School. After that, he attended a special boarding school called Phillips Exeter Academy.
Lourie played football at Exeter. In 1916, during his junior year, he scored the winning touchdown. This was against his school's big rival, Andover. In the fourth quarter, he ran 33 yards for the only score of the game.
College Football Star
Lourie went to Princeton University for college. He played football and also competed in track and field. In track, he won a long jump championship in the United Kingdom.
In football, he played as a quarterback. He was named a top All-American in 1920. This was during his junior year. His teammate, Stan Keck, later said the 1920 Princeton versus Yale game was amazing.
Princeton was leading 3–0 in the first half. They were having a tough game. With only time for one more play, Princeton had the ball. Yale thought Princeton would try a field goal. Lourie was the holder and Keck was the kicker. Yale players tried to block the kick. But Lourie quickly changed the play. He decided to run the ball himself. Keck made a block, and Lourie ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Princeton won the game 20–0. They finished the season with a great record of six wins, zero losses, and one tie.
A famous sports writer, Walter Camp, called Lourie "the remarkable little general." He said Lourie was great at finding weak spots in the other team.
Lourie was hurt in 1921 and missed half of his senior season. He received the Poe Memorial Cup for his dedication to the team. This award was given to him in both his junior and senior years.
In 1948, Lourie was named to Princeton's all-time football team. In 1964, he received the Gold Medal from the National Football Foundation. This award is for lifetime achievements. He was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Princeton University created the Donold B. Lourie Award in his honor. It is given each year to the best freshman player on the team.
Lourie graduated in 1922 as the president of his class. He was offered a chance to play for the Chicago Bears in the new National Football League. But he chose to stay at Princeton. He became the backfield coach for his old team.
Business and Government Career
After coaching, Lourie started working for the Quaker Oats Company. In 1923, he married Mary Edna King. They later had a son named Donold K. Lourie. Their son became a lawyer and businessman.
Donold B. Lourie became the president of Quaker Oats in 1947. In 1953, he took a break from Quaker Oats. President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked him to join the government. Lourie became the Under Secretary of State for Administration. In this role, he helped to reorganize the State Department. This means he helped make the department work better.
He returned to Quaker Oats the next year. In 1956, he became the chief executive officer (CEO). This is the top boss of the company. In 1961, he became the chairman. Lourie also served as a director for other big companies. These included International Paper Company and International Harvester.
In 1970, Lourie retired from Quaker Oats. He moved to Longwood, Florida. He passed away on January 15, 1990, at age 90, in Wilmette, Illinois.
