Joseph Coors Jr

Joseph Coors Jr. was born in 1942, the eldest of five sons of Joe and Holly Coors, and the great-grandson of brewery founder Adolph Coors. His mother, Holland Hanson Coors, was born in Bangor, Maine, and had moved to New York City to model when she met the elder Joe Coors in Nantucket, Mass. Like his father and his uncles, Bill and Adolph III, Joe and his brothers attended the high school Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. Joe graduated from Exeter in 1960 and picked the University of North Carolina, rather than the Ivy League colleges favored by his family. He then transferred to North Carolina State University where he received his B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics in 1964. She taught second grade, and he worked as a stockbroker. It wasn't until after Joe and Gail had their first child, in October 1965, that his grandparents invited them to attend Sunday luncheons at the "big house," Adolph Coors II's home on the brewery property. He and his wife have been married 50 years and have raised four children and have eight grandchildren. He has had many jobs over the years. He's worked as a stockbroker, systems analyst, computer programmer, general supervisor and CEO. He lead Coors Porcelain Company, now called CoorsTek, which manufactures ceramics for high technology purposes. He retired in 2000 at the age of 58, but remained active in other aspects of the Coors family businesses, including as a Manager of Keystone Holdings, LLC and 9th Street Capital, LLC. Over the years, Mr. Coors served on the Board of Directors for several companies and non-profits, including Hecla Mining Co., Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the State of Colorado, Air Force Memorial Foundation, Colorado School of Mines, St. Anthony Hospital, Flight for Life Colorado, and Game Day Memories. He also ran for Congress in the 7th District of Colorado in 2012. Mr. Coors is survived by his wife Gail, their children J. Bradford "Brad" Coors and his wife Kathy of Parker, CO, Holland "Holly" M. Coors of Highlands Ranch, CO, Douglas "Doug" M. Coors and his wife Holly of Fort Collins, CO, and Darden Coors, of Golden, CO, and nine grandchildren; his brothers Jeffery H. Coors and his wife Lis of Golden, CO, Peter H. Coors and his wife Marilyn of Denver, CO, W. Grover Coors and his wife Sylvia of Golden, CO and John K. Coors and his wife Sharna of Evergreen, CO; his great uncle William K. Coors, of Golden, CO, and a great number of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph Coors, Sr. and Holland Hanson Coors.