Background
Koten, John A. was born on May 21, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Son of Roy Y. and Margaret (Neerman) Koten.
Koten, John A. was born on May 21, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Son of Roy Y. and Margaret (Neerman) Koten.
Bachelor, North Center College, Naperville, Illinois, 1951. Doctor of Laws (honorary), North Center College, Naperville, Illinois, 1991. Postgraduate, Northwestern University, 1953.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Quincy College, 1990.
Supervisor field advertising, Montgomery Ward, Chicago, 1951-1952;
assistant director public relations, American Osteopathic Association, Chicago, 1952-1953;
editorial assistant, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1955-1956;
editor Telebriefs newsletter, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1956-1957;
supervisor information, Illinois Bell Tel.
Company, Chicago, 1957-1959;
supervisor commercial staff, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1959-1960;
supervisor news service and advertising, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Springfield, 1960-1962;
district commercial manager, Illinois Bell Tel.
Company, Springfield, 1962-1963;
supervisor public information, American Telephone & Telegraph Company, New York City, 1963;
supervisor customer relations, American Telephone & Telegraph Company, New York City, 1963-1964;
manager division traffic, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1965-1966;
manager public relations, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1966-1968;
assistant vice president civic affairs, Illinois Bell Tel.
Company, Chicago, 1968-1969;
assistant vice president Chicago operations, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Chicago, 1969-1970;
general manager upstate area, Illinois Bell Tel. Company, Joliet, 1970-1971;
director state regulatory matters, American Telephone & Telegraph Company, Lisle, Illinois, 1971-1972;
assistant vice president public relations, Illinois Bell Tel.
Company, Chicago, 1972-1974;
director public relations, American Telephone & Telegraph Company, New York City, 1974-1975;
vice president public relations, New Jersey Bell Telephone Сompany, Newark, 1975-1977;
vice president public relations, Illinois Bell Telephone Сompany, Chicago, 1977-1980;
vice president corporation communications, Illinois Bell Telephone Сompany, 1980-1987;
senior vice president corporation communications, Ameritech Corporation, Chicago, 1987-1992;
retired, Ameritech Corporation, Chicago, 1992;
president, The Wordsworth Group, Barrington Hills, Illinois.
Trustee Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 1985-1997, life trustee, since 1997. Trustee Joint Council on Economic Education, New York City. Trustee American Council Arts, 1987-1998, treasurer, 1991-1993.
Vice president Illinois Arts Alliance, Chicago, 1986-1991. Trustee Arthur W. Page Society, since 1985, president, 1985-1987. President Ameritech Foundation, Chicago, 1987-1994.
Vice chairman American Arts Alliance, Washington, 1983-1992. Board directors American Symphony Orchestra League, Washington, 1982-1994, Great Books Foundation, Chicago, since 1991, chairman executive committee. Trustee SOS Children's International Villages, Illinois, 1996-1900.
Trustee Associate Colleges Illinois, Chicago, 1986-1996, life trustee, since 1997. Trustee National Cultural Alliance, 1990-1998. Board visitors Medill School Journalism, Northwestern University, 1988-1994.
Associate trustee Wordsworth Trust, England, 1988. Member corporation council Business Committee for Arts, 1988-1996. Member board overseers Curtis Institute Music, Philadelphia, since 1997.
Life trustee North Central College, Illinois, since 1997. Board trustees District 220 Education Foundation, vice chairman, since 1999. Member Public Relations Society of America, Conference Board Corporation Communications Council, Chicago Advertising Club (board directors 1978-1982), Indiana Society, Public Affairs Council, Brookings Council, Chicago Club, Tavern Club, Economics Club, Chicago Yacht Club.
Married Catherine M. Hruska, November 22, 1952. Children: John, Mark, Sarah.