W. C. Bradley

William Clark Bradley
Born	Template:Birth date Russell County, Alabama, U.S.
Died	July 26, 1947(1947-07-26) (aged 84)
Occupation(s)	Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founder of banking institutions that became Synovus Financial Corp.; Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company (1919–1939); founder of W. C. Bradley Co.

William Clark Bradley (June 28, 1863 – July 26, 1947) was a prominent American businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Together with his associate G. Gunby Jordan, he co-established two banking institutions that later combined to create what is now known as Synovus Financial Corp.. In 1885, Bradley purchased a cotton factoring enterprise and transformed it into the multifaceted W. C. Bradley Co., which grew to operate across various sectors.<ref name=NGEWCB> Additionally, he held the position of chairman at The Coca-Cola Company from 1919 until 1939.<ref name=NGECCC>

Early life

Born on June 28, 1863, Bradley hailed from Russell County, Alabama.

Career

Bradley relocated to Columbus, Georgia in 1885, beginning his career as a clerk at the cotton factoring firm Bussey-Goldsmith and Company. With financial backing from his brother-in-law Samuel A. Carter, he acquired the business, rebranding it as Carter and Bradley and broadening its operations to include fertilizer distribution and grocery sales.

Banking interests

In 1888, Bradley joined forces with G. Gunby Jordan to found the Third National Bank of Columbus along with Columbus Savings Bank. Serving as president for both banks, he orchestrated their merger in 1930 into Columbus Bank and Trust,<ref name=NGESFC> which eventually evolved into Synovus Financial Corp., a regional banking institution operating across five southeastern states.<ref name=SFC>

W. C. Bradley Co.

By 1895, Bradley had purchased his brother-in-law’s stake and renamed the business W. C. Bradley Co.<ref name=WCBHist> Over the ensuing decades, the company diversified into industries such as textiles, outdoor and sporting goods retailing, real estate development, and barbecue grill manufacturing.<ref name=WCBDivs> Utilizing its foundry expertise, W. C. Bradley Co. developed an independent barbecue grill product and launched Char-Broil in 1948, becoming a leading producer of charcoal grills for residential customers.

As of 2005, this privately owned enterprise reported revenues near $450 million and employed about 2,500 individuals.<ref name=NGEWCBC>

The Coca-Cola Company

In 1919, a group of investors including Ernest Woodruff and W. C. Bradley purchased The Coca-Cola Company for $25 million. The company was subsequently reincorporated in Delaware and issued 500,000 shares of common stock to the public at $40 per share.