91ÊÓƵ

Retired President, CEO & Chairman of the Board
Brinker International, Inc.

Independent Chair of the Board
Southwest Airlines

Doug Brooks (‘75) is the former chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president of Brinker International Inc., whose current brands include Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Brooks earned a bachelor of science degree in hotel and restaurant management. He joined Chili’s in February 1978 as a manager at the company’s original location on Greenville Avenue in Dallas. There he rose through the ranks, holding positions as general manager, area director, and regional vice president. Brooks was named president of the brand in 1994 and was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Brinker International in 1999. The roles of chief executive officer and chairman of the board followed. Today, Brooks has transitioned into a consulting position.

In addition to his corporate career, he is the independent chair of the Southwest Airlines board of directors and serves on the emeritus board of the Limbs for Life Foundation. He serves on the professional advisory boards of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Vandelay Hospitality. Brooks is chairman of the Hilton College Dean’s Advisory Board and a member of the 91ÊÓƵ Board of Visitors, and he formerly served on the boards of ClubCorp, AutoZone, and the 91ÊÓƵ System Board of Regents.

Widely recognized for his achievements, Brooks has been named both a Hilton College Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Alumni Chair. He is a member of the Junior Achievement of Dallas’ Business Hall of Fame, the Texas Restaurant Association’s Hall of Honor, and Hilton College’s Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor, and he received the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations’ Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He was a Hilton College commencement speaker in 2007 and is an inaugural member of the Chili’s Hall of Fame.

Brooks has earned the Millennium Advisory Board Icon Award, the 91ÊÓƵ Distinguished Alumni Award, the Maggiano’s Little Italy Hall of Fame Award, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Michael F. Tamer Award, the Northern Texas PGA’s 2012 Byron Nelson Award, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas’ Distinguished Alumni Award, the Texas Diversity Council’s 2011 CEO Diversity Champion Award, Nation’s Restaurant News’ Norman Award, People Report’s Workforce Legacy Award, and Nation’s Restaurant News’ Golden Chain Award.

Outside of his business and community activities, Brooks spends his time with Holly, his wife of more than 48 years; their sons, Taylor and Kyle; their daughter-in-law, Laura; and their granddaughters, Isabella, Livi, Bridget, and Chloe.