William Coors facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Coors
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Coors in 2016
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William Kistler Coors
August 11, 1916 Golden, Colorado, U.S.
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| Died | October 13, 2018 (aged 102) Golden, Colorado, U.S.
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| Known for | Chairman of the Coors Brewing Company (1959–2000) |
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| Children | 3 |
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William Kistler Coors (born August 11, 1916 – died October 13, 2018) was an important American leader in the Coors Brewing Company. He worked with the company for over 64 years. He was also a member of its board of directors from 1973 to 2003. William Coors was the grandson of Adolph Coors, who started the company.
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William Coors' Life Story
William Coors was born in Golden, Colorado, on August 11, 1916. His father was Adolph Coors II. He had two brothers, Adolph Coors III and Joseph Coors Sr.
William went to Princeton University. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1938. The next year, in 1939, he got a master's degree in chemical engineering.
In 1974, when he was 58, Coors climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. This adventure helped him focus on being healthy. It inspired him to create the Coors Wellness Center in 1981. This center helped employees and retired workers of the company stay healthy.
In 1981, Coors received the Golden Plate Award. This award came from the American Academy of Achievement. He also hosted their big meeting in Denver in 1985.
William Coors turned 100 years old in August 2016. He passed away on October 13, 2018, at the age of 102.
William Coors' Career and Innovations
William Coors joined his family's business, the Coors Brewing Company, in 1939. He started as a chemical engineer.
He was well-known in the industry for his skills. He was especially good at packaging, bottling, and engineering. He is famous for helping create the two-piece aluminum can. This type of can can be recycled easily. Today, it is used everywhere.
In the 1950s, Coors asked his father for money. He wanted to build a test line for aluminum cans. By the early 1960s, recycling cans became possible. The company even offered a one-cent deposit for each returned can. This encouraged people to recycle.
Coors became a member of the company's board of directors in 1973. In 1992, some parts of the company that didn't make beer were separated. These included Coors Ceramics Co.. William Coors was the chairman for both the main company and the new one.
In 2003, at 87 years old, Coors retired from the boards. However, he continued to work for the company as a chief technical adviser.
William Coors' Views and Community Work
William Coors' views were generally more moderate than his brother Joe's. For example, he supported the Equal Rights Amendment.
Working with Communities
In 1984, William Coors made some comments that caused controversy. He later apologized for his words. He said he hoped his actions showed his true commitment to helping different groups.
After this, the Adolph Coors Company worked to build stronger relationships. In September 1984, they signed an agreement with Operation PUSH and the NAACP. This agreement meant the company would invest $325 million into black communities. They also agreed to work with black-owned banks and advertise in black-owned media.
In October, the company made a similar agreement. This was with the American GI Forum and La Raza. They agreed to invest $300 million. This was the first time La Raza had such an agreement with a company.
Important Roles William Coors 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
