John D. deButts
deButts in 1972
Born1915
DiedDecember 18, 1986(1986-12-18) (aged 70–71)
Winchester, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Chairman & CEO at
AT&T (1972–1979)

John D. deButts (1915–1986) was an American businessman. He served as the chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T from 1972 to 1979.[1][2][3]

Biography

After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, where he studied electrical engineering. He received a bachelor's degree in 1936. He served as president of Illinois Bell.[2] From 1972 to 1979, he served as chairman and CEO of AT&T.[1][2][3] He objected to the United States federal government's antitrust efforts to break up AT&T.[2][3] In 1984, he was dismayed by the decision to break up the Bell System's twenty-three operating companies.[3]

In 1976, deButts received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[4]

He served as chairman of The Business Council from 1977 to 1978.[5]

He resided in a family farm in Upperville, Virginia.[1] He died of a heart attack in Winchester, Virginia, on December 18, 1986.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Eric N. Berg, John D. deButts, Ex-Chairman of A.T.&T., Is Dead, The New York Times, December 18, 1986
  2. ^ a b c d John D. deButts, 71, former chairman and chief executive..., The Chicago Tribune, December 21, 1986
  3. ^ a b c d John deButts, Former AT&T Chief, Dies : Opposed U.S. Action to Break Up Communications Conglomerate, The Los Angeles Times, December 19, 1986
  4. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  5. ^ The Business Council, Official website, Background Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
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