Joseph Coors: Coors Brewing Executive and Heritage Foundation Co-Founder

Joseph Coors was an American businessman and conservative philanthropist, a grandson of brewer Adolph Coors. Born on November 12, 1917, in Golden, Colorado, he helped refine the cold-filtered brewing system at the family company.

He was president of Coors Brewing Company from 1977 to 1985 and chief operating officer until 1988. He started one of America's first big aluminum can recycling programs. He co-founded the Heritage Foundation and founded the Mountain States Legal Foundation in 1977.

Coors served as a University of Colorado regent and was a major supporter of conservative causes. He married Holly Coors in 1941 and had five sons. He died in Rancho Mirage, California, on March 15, 2003, at age 85, of lymphatic cancer.

Achievements: President of Coors Brewing (1977-1985), co-founded the Heritage Foundation.

Birth: November 12, 1917 - Golden, Colorado.

Profession: Brewer and philanthropist.

Interesting Facts: He offered a one-cent reward for returned aluminum cans to start recycling.