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175 Makers of History: Robert W. Woodruff

Robert W. Woodruff 1912C
CEO, The Coca-Cola Company; Philanthropist

The $105 million gift from brothers George W. and Robert W. Woodruff is one that keeps on giving.

In 1923, Robert Woodruff became president of The Coca-Cola 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.

Woodruff's first gift to Emory in 1937 established the precursor to the Winship Cancer Institute. In his lifetime, Woodruff directed more than $230 million in gifts to Emory and millions more to other worthwhile causes across Georgia. His is one of the most recognized names in Emory history.