Donald Duster
 Donald Duster    (businessman) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1932 Chicago |
| Died | 2013 (Age 80) |
| Nationality | US |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois, DePaul University |
Chicago businessman. A non-caucasian who attended the 1971 Bilderberg | |
Donald Leon Duster attended the 1971 Bilderberg.
Early Life
He was born on the South Side of Chicago on February 10, 1932. He attended Wendell Phillips High School and graduated salutatorian in 1949, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from University of Illinois in 1953. After college he was a 2nd Lieutenant on active duty with the United States Army. He received an MBA from DePaul University in 1978.[1]
In 1955 he started his career as a manager at Spiegel Company where he worked for seven years. He then went to Commonwealth Edison (now ComEd) in 1962 where he worked for 25 years in various management positions. He took a leave of absence from 1977 – 1979 to join Governor James R. Thompson’s cabinet as the Director of the Illinois Department of Business and Economic Development.
After leaving ComEd in 1987, Donald became the Assistant Executive Director of Chicago Commons Association, a community-based not-for-profit social service agency. For over 20 years he oversaw the operations of several sites and numerous social service programs throughout the city of Chicago.
He was a member of the United States -South Africa Leader Exchange Program (USSALEP), an organization devoted to finding a peaceful transition to a post-apartheid era. That gave him the opportunity to travel to several places in South Africa during the 1970s. He also enjoyed his visits to Russia, Cuba, Australia, India, Mexico and many other countries in Africa and Europe. He was also a long-time member of The Economic Club of Chicago.[1]
Legacy
There is a Donald L. Duster Scholarship.[2] As a grandson of journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells, Donald and his four siblings founded The Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation in 1988 to preserve the legacy of their grandmother. They recognized accomplished journalists and in 2008 established an Ida B. Wells Scholarship for students at Rust College.[1]
Event Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilderberg/1971 | 23 April 1971 | 25 April 1971 | US Vermont Woodstock Woodstock Inn | The 20th Bilderberg, 89 guests |
