Coke Ex-President Austin Dies

J. Paul Austin, the retired Coca-Cola Co. chairman who introduced Coke to mainland China in 1978, died at his home today after a long illness. He was 70.

He became president of the Atlanta-based company in 1962, added the title of chief executive officer in 1966 and was named chairman in 1970. When he retired in 1981, he was succeeded by the current chairman, Roberto C. Goizueta. Austin negotiated an exclusive agreement to market Coke in China. It was announced Dec. 13, 1978, two days before the United States and China normalized relations.