William Coors

Career

William Coors entered the family business as a chemical engineer for Coors Brewing Company in 1939.

Coors was respected in the industry for his ability in packaging, bottling, and engineering. He is credited with pioneering the recyclable two-piece aluminum can, which is now standard throughout the industry. In the 1950s, Coors requested $250,000 from his father, CEO Adolph Coors II, to build an experimental line of aluminum cans. By the early 1960s, can recycling was viable, and the company offered customers a one-cent deposit on returned cans.

Coors was elected to the board of directors in 1973. When the non-brewing assets (e.g., Coors Ceramics Co.) of Adolph Coors Co. were spun off in 1992 as ACX Technologies Inc., he served as chairman of both companies.

In 2003, at the age of 87, Coors retired from the boards of the Adolph Coors Company and the Coors Brewing Company, although he remained with the company as chief technical adviser.

Political views Coors' political views were considered to be more moderate and less outspoken than his brother Joe's. In off-the-cuff remarks, he stated that "ancestors were dragged here in chains against their will. … I would urge those of you who feel that way to go back to where your ancestors came from, and you will find out that probably the greatest favor that anybody ever did you was to drag your ancestors over here in chains, and I mean it." He also remarked Africa's economic problems stemmed from "a lack of intellectual capacity." A number of people who attended the speech reported that the remarks were not considered offensive. At least 500 liquor stores in Southern California joined the NAACP boycott, which was suspended five days later when they reached an agreement with the company.

In 1987, Coors dropped his libel suit after the Rocky Mountain News printed an article commending Coors' good record with the minority community, and expressing regret for the headline over the February 24, 1984 article.

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