David T. Kearns

David Todd Kearns (August 11, 1930 – February 25, 2011) was an American businessman who was CEO of Xerox Corporation (1982–1990) and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (1991–1993). He died on February 25, 2011.

Kearns grew up in Rochester, New York where he met his future wife, Shirley Virginia Cox. He earned a degree in business administration in 1952 from the University of Rochester, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. Kearns entered U.S. Navy flight school and was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Coral Sea as an airman. Starting in 1954, Kearns worked at IBM.

In 1971, Kearns joined Xerox Corporation as Vice President. He also served as head of U.S./Marketing and Service at Xerox in Rochester, New York and later as Vice President of Foreign Markets in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1977, he became Xerox President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1982, Kearns became CEO of Xerox Corporation. In 1985, Kearns succeeded Charles Peter McColough as Chairman of Xerox.

Kearns was nominated by President George H.W. Bush as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education on March 22, 1991. The United States Senate confirmed him for the position on May 31, 1991.

Following the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, California, President George H.W. Bush appointed Kearns as White House liaison to help resolve the conflict.

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