George W. Woodruff
Encyclopedia
George Waldo Woodruff was an engineer, businessman, and philanthropist
in Atlanta, Georgia
. He attended the Georgia School of Technology
in 1917 and gave generously to both his alma mater and Emory University
, including (in coordination with his brother Robert W. Woodruff
) the single largest donation ever to a school, $105 million to Emory University in 1979.
) and attended Georgia Tech's School of Mechanical Engineering
and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, but left school in 1917 due to World War I
.. At Georgia Tech, he was a brother of the Kappa Alpha Order
.
, the magnate that led the Trust Company (now known as SunTrust) and who orchestrated the takeover of the Coca-Cola Company. In 1984, Forbes Magazine estimated that Woodruff was worth $200 million ($ today).
at Georgia Tech
is the university's oldest and second-largest school; it was named for Woodruff in 1985 on the school's centennial. Also at Georgia Tech, the Woodruff Dining Hall is the only dining hall on west campus. Woodruff left the Georgia Tech Foundation $37.5 million in his will, the largest private gift the school has received.
Woodruff is remembered at Mercer University
as well. He bequeathed the university's law school a $15 million endowment; the Woodruff Curriculum at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law
is named in his honor. At Emory, the George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center and the George and Irene Woodruff Residential Center bear his name. Finally, there are numerous scholarships at Georgia Tech, Mercer, Emory and the University of Georgia
named in his memory.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He attended the Georgia School of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in 1917 and gave generously to both his alma mater and Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, including (in coordination with his brother Robert W. Woodruff
Robert W. Woodruff
Robert Winship Woodruff was the president of The Coca-Cola Company from 1923 until 1954. With his enormous Coke fortune, he was also a major philanthropist, and many educational and cultural landmarks in the U.S...
) the single largest donation ever to a school, $105 million to Emory University in 1979.
Early life
Woodruff went to high school at Tech High School (now Henry W. Grady High SchoolHenry W. Grady High School
Henry W. Grady High School is located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in Midtown. It serves as the Communication Magnet school for the Atlanta Public Schools...
) and attended Georgia Tech's School of Mechanical Engineering
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering is the oldest and second largest department in the College of Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The school offers degree programs in mechanical engineering and nuclear and radiological engineering that are accredited by ABET...
and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, but left school in 1917 due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.. At Georgia Tech, he was a brother of the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
.
Career
From 1936 to 1985 (49 years), Woodruff was the director of the Coca-Cola Company, although he was never an officer of the company. He also headed the Continental Gin Company from 1930 to 1985, which was a cotton-processing business. George was the last living child of Ernest WoodruffErnest Woodruff
Ernest Woodruff was an important businessman in the U.S. city of Atlanta.-Biography:Woodruff was born in Columbus, Georgia, USA...
, the magnate that led the Trust Company (now known as SunTrust) and who orchestrated the takeover of the Coca-Cola Company. In 1984, Forbes Magazine estimated that Woodruff was worth $200 million ($ today).
Legacy
Woodruff is the namesake of several notable educational programs in Georgia. The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering is the oldest and second largest department in the College of Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The school offers degree programs in mechanical engineering and nuclear and radiological engineering that are accredited by ABET...
at Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
is the university's oldest and second-largest school; it was named for Woodruff in 1985 on the school's centennial. Also at Georgia Tech, the Woodruff Dining Hall is the only dining hall on west campus. Woodruff left the Georgia Tech Foundation $37.5 million in his will, the largest private gift the school has received.
Woodruff is remembered at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
as well. He bequeathed the university's law school a $15 million endowment; the Woodruff Curriculum at Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law
Walter F. George School of Law
The Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University, founded in 1873, is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the second oldest of Mercer's eleven colleges and schools. The School of Law, with approximately 420 students, is located in Macon, Georgia on its own campus one...
is named in his honor. At Emory, the George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center and the George and Irene Woodruff Residential Center bear his name. Finally, there are numerous scholarships at Georgia Tech, Mercer, Emory and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
named in his memory.