George Hunter (Coca-Cola bottler)
George Thomas Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886 Maysville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | 1950 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, benefactor |
| Known for | Coca-Cola Bottling Company executive, founder of The Benwood Foundation, benefactor of The Hunter Museum of American Art |
George Thomas Hunter (1886–1950) was a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based entrepreneur and benefactor who inherited and oversaw the Coca-Cola Bottling Company enterprise from his uncle, Benjamin Thomas. Originally from Maysville, Kentucky, Hunter relocated to Chattanooga in 1904 to reside with his aunt and uncle. His notable charitable efforts include the creation of The Benwood Foundation and The Hunter Museum of American Art. Hunter Hall at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga bears his name in recognition of his legacy.
Early life
Hunter was born in Maysville, Kentucky, and moved to Chattanooga in 1904 to live with his aunt Anne and uncle Benjamin Thomas, a trailblazer in the American Coca-Cola bottling sector, with the aim of gaining business knowledge. He received his education at Baylor School, a private academy. Upon the passing of his aunt and uncle, he inherited their property located in the Bluff View area, which is currently home to The Hunter Museum of American Art. Hunter passed away in 1950, leaving no spouse or descendants.
Career
After acquiring practical experience under his uncle’s guidance, Hunter joined the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which was established in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1906, initially taking on the role of secretary. Upon Benjamin Thomas’s death in 1914, Hunter assumed the presidency of the company. He was promoted to chairman of the board in 1941 and appointed DeSales Harrison from Atlanta as president. Presently, this bottling company ranks as the third largest Coca-Cola bottler within the United States and employs more than 3,000 individuals.
Philanthropy
In 1944, Hunter founded the Benwood Foundation as a tribute to his uncle, dedicating it to providing grants that support public education, cultural arts, environmental initiatives, and community enhancement. One significant contribution included a $5 million grant awarded to the Public Education Foundation aimed at improving student success; this grant also established a legal precedent in Tennessee concerning estate taxation.
Following Hunter’s death in 1950, a collaboration between the Chattanooga Art Association and the Benwood Foundation led to the establishment of Chattanooga’s inaugural art museum—originally named the George Thomas Hunter Gallery of Art and now known as the Hunter Museum of American Art. Opened in 1952, this institution features American artwork spanning from colonial times through contemporary periods and played a key role in fostering growth within Chattanooga’s Bluff View Art District.
In 1957, Hunter Hall was erected at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to serve as the College of Education’s facility, commemorating Hunter’s philanthropic impact on the local community.