NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
KENNETH S. COORS 1961 HS
Kenneth S. Coors was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In September of 1958, he entered New Mexico Military Institute as a Fifth Classman. Coors was assigned to Company C, where he participated in the Debate Club under Captain Sunseeri and was proud to be part of the Harry Morrison Company that year. He ran track all three years of high school and earned his Colt Letter in his last two years. Coors continually increased in rank and was elected class president of his Third Class. The seeds of discipline and achievement were planted.
After graduation from NMMI, Coors attended the University of New Mexico (UNM). Upon receiving a business degree from UNM, he applied for and was accepted into the Marine Officer’s Candidate School, where he completed Marine basic training and then attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. As a helicopter pilot, he was assigned to Vietnam and completed his tour in 1969, flying numerous combat missions in support of Marine Operations in Northern I Corps.
Following the fulfillment of his military obligations, Coors joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS), filling a key position in the company for Ross Perot. He and his wife Ginia moved to San Francisco, where he worked as a Systems Engineer and was soon promoted and transferred to New York City. Not wishing to raise their children in the city, he left EDS and moved to Denver, Colorado, where his business and engineering skills allowed him to build five successful businesses from scratch before selling them and moving on to the next challenge. He started his first business in 1973 and sold his fifth, American Lighting, in 2002.
Upon selling his fifth business, he turned his efforts into helping others through the non-profit organization, SCORE, counselors to America’s small business. He has gained national recognition for the unselfish giving of his time helping hundreds of entrepreneurs start, grow and prosper in their business ventures. He recently developed a new program for SCORE called The Small Business Check-up where teams of counselors spend time at businesses reviewing operations and identifying needs and issues. They then provide their clients with specific action plans for achieving greater success. Coors also volunteers for The National Sports Center for the Disabled, teaching disabled children how to ski in the winter and therapeutic horseback riding in the summer and fall.
Ken Coors is known for Duty—to his family and country—for Honor—in dealing with everyone he meets—and for Achievement—in business and his selfless volunteer work.
Inducted 17 October 2008
