Robert W. Woodruff Legacy
Who was Robert W. Woodruff?
Robert married Nell Hodgson of Athens, Georgia, whose marriage cut short her own career of nursing. Her love of the field prompted Emory to later name its nursing school after her. They had no children.
Woodruff moved to White Motor Company, where he soon became vice president in the 1920s. During this time, his father had organized a syndicate that bought The Coca-Cola Company from Asa Candler for $25 million. Before long, the company began having financial troubles. So at age 33, Bob Woodruff was elected president of Coca-Cola in 1923 and began his illustrious 60-year career with the world's most popular soft drink company.
With innate marketing savvy, an ability to motivate and lead his employees, and a demand for quality, Woodruff built Coca-Cola into a household name and an international business by the end World War II. Even though he left active management in 1954, he remained a member of the Board of Directors until 1984.
By the time of his death on March 7, 1985, he had directed to Emory more than $230 million in personal gifts or funds from foundations he controlled. His gifts of every size, many of which were made anonymously and all of which were made selflessly and without stipulation, touched countless individuals. Emory owes him a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
In his memory, the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation continues to give to those causes that improve the lives of everyday people.