J. Mack Robinson
Encyclopedia
J. Mack Robinson is a Georgia
businessman. He has led several of Atlanta's major corporations. Robinson is also a notable philanthropist
, having donated millions of dollars to his home state.
(1941–45), Robinson briefly returned to work for the Journal after the war.
While working for the newspaper, Robinson opened up two used-car lots in Atlanta, Baker Street Motors and Robinson Motors. Both proved profitable, and within a short time Robinson left the Journal and began working full-time selling cars. Over the next several years he opened up several more car lots in Atlanta, Augusta
, Columbus
, and Macon
. This enterprise led him to his next business venture in the finance industry.
During this period Robinson dealt closely with numerous insurance companies and, once again seeing an opportunity, decided to enter the insurance business. He formed Delta Life Insurance and, a short time later, Delta Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. The new businesses proved successful. In 1974 Robinson purchased the Atlantic American Corporation, an Atlanta-based insurance company founded in 1937. He has served as its director and chairman of the board and, from 1988 to 1995, actively helped run the company as president and chief executive officer
.
In the mid-1960s Robinson expanded into the banking industry and began buying local banks in small towns around Atlanta. His strategy was to enter small markets in which his business would usually become, immediately upon opening, the largest finance company in the town and encounter minimum competition. Over the next several years he not only purchased twenty-two small banks with branches in more than fifty cities but also acquired a state charter to open his own bank. In 1972 Robinson sold more than 100 of his finance offices to the First National Bank of Atlanta (later Wachovia Bank). With the sale, he became a director at the bank and its largest individual shareholder.
In the early 1960s, Robinson invested personal funds to help the well-known designer Yves Saint Laurent start his own fashion house. He played an integral role during the first years of Saint Laurent's business, writing checks and traveling to Paris, France, several times a year. In 1966 Robinson sold his share in the fashion house for $1 million. Another interest, horse racing, inspired Robinson to purchase and operate a horse farm in Thomasville, which has about ninety horses and a five-eighths-of-a-mile racetrack. Cherokee Run
, a thoroughbred owned by his daughter Jill, won the 1994 Breeder's Cup Sprint Award.
Robinson has been honored for his philanthropic activities. In 1994 he and his wife were honored by the Georgia chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives as Philanthropists of the Year. In 1998 he gave the Georgia State University
College of Business a $10 million endowment. To thank him for the gift, the school's name was changed to the J. Mack Robinson College of Business
. Robinson has also given major donations to The Westminster Schools
and Oglethorpe University
and has served as director of the Woodruff Arts Center
and is a life member of the High Museum of Art
's board of directors.
In September 2002 Robinson made a return of sorts to his beginnings in the business world when he became the chief executive officer of Gray Television
, a communication company that owns television stations nationwide, in addition to five Georgia newspapers.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
businessman. He has led several of Atlanta's major corporations. Robinson is also a notable philanthropist
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...
, having donated millions of dollars to his home state.
Early career
Mack Robinson was born in Atlanta on May 7, 1923, and entered the business world at age ten, when he was hired as a "helper" at the Atlanta Journal. Within five years he had become a circulation district manager working out of the newspaper's main office. After graduating from Boys High School and serving in the U.S. Army during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(1941–45), Robinson briefly returned to work for the Journal after the war.
While working for the newspaper, Robinson opened up two used-car lots in Atlanta, Baker Street Motors and Robinson Motors. Both proved profitable, and within a short time Robinson left the Journal and began working full-time selling cars. Over the next several years he opened up several more car lots in Atlanta, Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, and Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. This enterprise led him to his next business venture in the finance industry.
Finance and Insurance Career
As a used-car salesman, Robinson had been financing the purchase of cars through an automobile finance company in Chicago, Illinois. Seeing the potential for profit, Robinson founded his own company, the Dixie Finance Company, in 1948. He quickly discovered that he enjoyed the finance industry more than the used-car business. Robinson sold his car lots and soon started another finance business, Gulf Finance Company. Over the next twenty years, his companies experienced great success, expanding into more than 100 cities across the South.During this period Robinson dealt closely with numerous insurance companies and, once again seeing an opportunity, decided to enter the insurance business. He formed Delta Life Insurance and, a short time later, Delta Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. The new businesses proved successful. In 1974 Robinson purchased the Atlantic American Corporation, an Atlanta-based insurance company founded in 1937. He has served as its director and chairman of the board and, from 1988 to 1995, actively helped run the company as president and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
.
In the mid-1960s Robinson expanded into the banking industry and began buying local banks in small towns around Atlanta. His strategy was to enter small markets in which his business would usually become, immediately upon opening, the largest finance company in the town and encounter minimum competition. Over the next several years he not only purchased twenty-two small banks with branches in more than fifty cities but also acquired a state charter to open his own bank. In 1972 Robinson sold more than 100 of his finance offices to the First National Bank of Atlanta (later Wachovia Bank). With the sale, he became a director at the bank and its largest individual shareholder.
Investments and Philanthropy
He and his wife, Nita, along with their daughters, Jill and Robin, have donated funds to a number of Georgia entities and become involved in the worlds of high fashion and horse racing.In the early 1960s, Robinson invested personal funds to help the well-known designer Yves Saint Laurent start his own fashion house. He played an integral role during the first years of Saint Laurent's business, writing checks and traveling to Paris, France, several times a year. In 1966 Robinson sold his share in the fashion house for $1 million. Another interest, horse racing, inspired Robinson to purchase and operate a horse farm in Thomasville, which has about ninety horses and a five-eighths-of-a-mile racetrack. Cherokee Run
Cherokee Run
Cherokee Run is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1982 Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Runaway Groom, who in turn was a son of leading sire Blushing Groom...
, a thoroughbred owned by his daughter Jill, won the 1994 Breeder's Cup Sprint Award.
Robinson has been honored for his philanthropic activities. In 1994 he and his wife were honored by the Georgia chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives as Philanthropists of the Year. In 1998 he gave the Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
College of Business a $10 million endowment. To thank him for the gift, the school's name was changed to the J. Mack Robinson College of Business
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
The J. Mack Robinson College of Business is one of the six colleges at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Robinson’s offerings include a Flex M.B.A., Professional M.B.A., Executive M.B.A., Specialized Master's programs, and undergraduate program....
. Robinson has also given major donations to The Westminster Schools
The Westminster Schools
The Westminster Schools is a private school in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1951 and tracing its origins to 1878, Westminster has the largest endowment of any non-boarding school in the United States...
and Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Brookhaven, Georgia, an inner suburb of Atlanta. It was chartered in 1835 and named after James Edward Oglethorpe, the state's founder.-History:...
and has served as director of the Woodruff Arts Center
Woodruff Arts Center
Woodruff Arts Center is a major visual and performing arts center located in Atlanta. The center houses four arts divisions in one campus and not-for-profit organization...
and is a life member of the High Museum of Art
High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art , located in Atlanta, is the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States and one of the most-visited art museums in the world. Located on Peachtree Street in Midtown, the city's arts district, the High is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center.-History:The Museum was...
's board of directors.
In September 2002 Robinson made a return of sorts to his beginnings in the business world when he became the chief executive officer of Gray Television
Gray Television
Gray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with administrative offices in Albany, Georgia.Established in 1946 by James H...
, a communication company that owns television stations nationwide, in addition to five Georgia newspapers.