Name Mixup: Deere CEO called ‘Sam Adams’

John Deere CEO Samuel Allen received an honorary degree at Clarke University in Dubuque earlier this month.

In the sort of awkward moment that many of us fear, the university president who introduced him confused his name with a similar-sounding name, in this case, a beer label.

“Mr. Samuel Adams … Allen,” said Clarke President Sister Joanne Burrows. “I knew I was going to … you know, I practiced not to say that.”

Allen responded to the introduction with levity, accepting an invitation from Burrows for a game of golf and offering to bring the Sam Adams. S