George W. Woodruff

George Waldo Woodruff
Born	Template:Birth date
Died	February 4, 1987(1987-02-04) (aged 91) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Philanthropy to Georgia Tech and Emory University; director of Coca-Cola Company; manager of Continental Gin Company

George Waldo Woodruff (born August 27, 1895 – died February 4, 1987, Atlanta, Georgia) was a prominent American engineer, entrepreneur, and benefactor based in Atlanta. Graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1917, Woodruff made notable philanthropic donations to both his alma mater and Emory University, including a historic $105 million gift to Emory in 1979, coordinated alongside his brother Robert W. Woodruff.

Early life

Woodruff completed his secondary education at Tech High School (presently known as Midtown High School) before pursuing mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech’s School of Mechanical Engineering. He briefly attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology but departed in 1917 due to the outbreak of World War I. During his time at Georgia Tech, he was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity.

Career

Between 1936 and 1985, Woodruff held a position as a director at the Coca-Cola Company, although he never assumed an executive officer role. Concurrently, from 1930 until 1985, he managed the Continental Gin Company, specializing in cotton processing. He was the youngest surviving son of Ernest Woodruff, who led the Trust Company (currently known as SunTrust) and engineered Coca-Cola’s acquisition. In 1984, Forbes valued Woodruff’s fortune at $200 million (equivalent to $ as of ).

Legacy

Woodruff’s name is widely recognized within Georgia’s academic circles. The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, which is the institution’s oldest and second-largest academic division, was named in his honor in 1985. Additionally, the Woodruff Residence Hall carries his name. He donated $37.5 million to the Georgia Tech Foundation, marking one of its most substantial private contributions.

In his will, Woodruff excluded his daughter Frances Woodruff from inheritance except for a $200,000 trust fund accessible only if she became financially destitute; meanwhile, his other daughters, Jane and Irene, were each allocated approximately $30 million.

At Mercer University, he endowed the law school with $15 million; Mercer’s Woodruff Curriculum is named to commemorate him. Emory University honors him through the George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center and the George and Irene Woodruff Residential Center. Numerous scholarships at Georgia Tech, Mercer, Emory, and the University of Georgia also bear his name in tribute.