SPECIAL FRIEND OF MESA STATE - Information as of 1997: Ivan was born on April 4, 1950, and raised on a farm in the San Luis Valley, approximately 50 miles south of Alamosa. He spent his early years working on the farm while attending school. Luster graduated from Centennial High School in San Luis, Colorado.
Following graduation, he worked for a year in a grocery store in Alamosa. He then began his career in the soft drink industry, working for Royal Crown Cola in Alamosa. His first position was on the production line, filling and stacking the product in the warehouse, all by hand.
Luster was married in 1969 to Jacque McCarroll in LaJara, Colorado, and they continued to live in Alamosa for three more years. At that time, the Royal Crown bottling company was sold. Luster worked for one summer moving mobile homes and driving for Mayflower. He decided his heart was in the beverage industry.
Luster and his wife moved to Grand Junction in the summer of 1972, when Ivan began work for Royal Crown - Seven Up. During his career with Royal Crown, he held numerous positions, from sales to management.
Swire Coca-Cola, USA purchased the Grand Junction company in 1980. Luster and his wife, Jacque, have three daughters, one son and five grandchildren.
