Joseph Whitehead (Coca-Cola bottler)
Joseph Brown Whitehead | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1864 Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | 1906 |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, businessman |
| Known for | Securing exclusive bottling and distribution rights for Coca-Cola |
Joseph Brown Whitehead (1864–1906) was an attorney who, in partnership with Benjamin Thomas and John Thomas Lupton, acquired exclusive bottling and distribution rights for Coca-Cola from Asa Candler.
Early life
Whitehead was born in Oxford, Mississippi, to Baptist clergyman Richard H. Whitehead and Mary Amanda Conkey Whitehead. He earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi.
Career
In 1899, Whitehead and Thomas successfully secured exclusive rights to bottle the beverage after negotiations with Candler. Later, Lupton joined the venture as a partner and assumed the role of president at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
Personal life
Whitehead wed Lettie Pate in 1895, and the couple moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He passed away suddenly from pneumonia in 1906. After his death, Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans took over his interests in the bottling enterprise and real estate investments, establishing the Whitehead Holding Company and Whitehead Realty Company to oversee these assets along with those belonging to their two sons.
Legacy
Due to Joseph Brown Whitehead's charitable contributions, three health-related buildings on the Georgia Institute of Technology main campus bear his name. The original structure erected in 1911, now known as the Chapin Building, along with the Joseph Brown Whitehead Building, currently accommodates campus health services.
External links
- Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation official website