Emory University - Campus Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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Robert Win hip Woodruff he Woodruff Medical Administration Building. Robert W. Woodruff Library. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. ln a quick tour of Emory, the Woodruff name appears many time, but few students actually know the significance of the name or about the man behind the money that provided all these buildings. Robert Winship Woodruff was born to Ernest and Emily Woodruff on December 6, 1889 in Columbus, Georgia. The Woodruffs lived in Columbus for only a short while before moving to Atlanta which became their permanent home. Young Robert attended Edgewood Avenue Elementary School and graduated from Georgia Military Academy tnow Woodward Academyl. Woodruff did well in elementary school and was very involved at GMA. He showed his keen business sense early by saving his high school from foreclo- sure by talking the angry banker into an extension on the repayment period. Woodruff's connections with Emory began in 1908 When he began college at the Oxford campus. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity while at Oxford, but he was not much of a student. Instead Woodruff was anxious to get out into the world of business, and much to his father's dismay, he dropped out of college. Ernest Woodruff insisted that his son repay his college debts, and Robert found work first as an apprentice at a pipe foundry and later as a saleman of fire extinguishers. ln 1912, his father hired him as a purchasing agent for one of his companies, Atlantic lce and Coal. During this same year, Robert Woodruff and Nell Hodgson tfor whom the School of Nursing is namedj were married. Shortly after his marriage, Woodruff was offered and accepted a job at the White Motor Company, and he quickly moved through the ranks to become a vice-president in the company in 1922. By 1922 Woodruff was also on the board of directors of the Trust Company of Georgia. Meanwhile, Ernest Woodruff had bought the Coca-Cola Company from Asa Griggs Candler. Robert Woodruff's fasci- nation with the Atlanta-based company was also exhibited early as he had borrowed heavily to buy Coca-Cola stock while he was employed by White Motors. The early 20's were not good years for the Coca-Cola Company, ln an effort to remedy the situation, the board of directors elected Robert Woodruff president of the company on April 28, 1923. According to legend, Ernest Woodruff did not push the election of his son and abstained in the actual vote for his election. Robert Woodruff quickly elevated the sales figures of Coca-Cola by reorganizing the sales department, increasing the already large budget allocation for advertising, and em- phasizing quality control. The Coca-Cola Company's rise to an international foods and beverages industry is clearly the result of Woodruff's seemingly infinite wisdom for business, his incredible personality, and his dedication to hard work. Woodruff's natural flair for business is exhibited by the success of the Coca-Cola Company, but perhaps it is best represented by the respect he has gained from his business associates and employees. In the 58 years that he has been associated with the company, Woodruff has reigned in an unobtrusive way. It has been said that he ran the company with a velvet gauntlet. He is consulted on all aspects of the business from advertising to quality control, but he rarelyissues orders directly. Instead his ideas filter down through his carefully chosen staff, He is extremely loyal to the company and his employees, but just as he would give nothing but his best, he challenges the employees and ex- pects their best efforts. Woodruff is an expert on personnel relations and has been known to help his employees out both in business and more personal matters. As a result, the employees of Coca-Cola gain invaluable experience, and they exhibit a tremendous amount of love and respect for Mr. Woodruff. Robert Woodruff is one of the best examples of a true Southern gentleman. Perhaps his strength lies in his kind, humble, quiet, but nonetheless strong style. His thoughtful- ness for his fellow man is exhibited both by simple birthday remembrances and by greater gifts. Woodruff is a man who loves the out-of-doors, and hunting has been one of his favorite pasttimes. His caring attitude is shown in his dedica- tion to his hunting dogs. At lchauway Plantation, he has been known to take the older dogs out purely for their enjoyment even though their hunting abilities have declined. He is dedicated to the South and the country as a whole, and he has made great contributions, both monetary and adviso- ry, to the city of Atlanta, especially during times of racial prolems. Woodruff has worked hard all his life, from the day he dropped out of school until the present, but he is lowkey rather than hard-driving. Although he has put in many hours and sacrificed much, when asked about his success, he quickly states, l've been lucky. True to his style, Robert Woodruff shuns attention and reportedly does not realize the contribution he has made to the world.

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Wd T' r- fa sg f ,1 2 I r 1 W x I M gg 'ff X ,N-Li' , :fr . . . W ,M j f W1 f '14 fi 'W' 4 xg ' pu. i I. -Robert Woodruff plays with one of his hunting. ' I .dogs at his ranch in Wyoming., V . f, 2. -A portrait of young Robert Woodruff 1 '. 3. -Mr. Woodruff and his wife Nellxenjoyed many vacations at his Wyoming ranch. A A -w aw