This article is about the man. For the company he founded, see W. C. Bradley Co.
William Clark Bradley (June 28, 1863 – July 26, 1947) was an American entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist. He, along with partner G. Gunby Jordan, co-founded two banks that eventually merged to become the present-day Synovus Financial Corp. He also formed the W. C. Bradley Co. in 1885 by purchasing a cotton factoring firm and immediately expanding it into a diverse business spanning many different industries.[1] Bradley also played a prominent role in the early history of The Coca-Cola Company, serving as its chairman of the board from 1919 to 1939.[2]
In 1885, he moved to nearby Columbus, Georgia, and began work as a clerk at the cotton factoring firm Bussey-Goldsmith and Company. He soon purchased the firm from its owners with the help of his brother-in-law, Samuel A. Carter. They changed the name of the company to Carter and Bradley and immediately began to diversify its line of business into other areas including fertilizer sales and groceries.[1]
Banking interestsedit
Three years after his move to Columbus, Bradley teamed with local businessman G. Gunby Jordan to form the Third National Bank of Columbus and the Columbus Savings Bank. As president of both banks, Bradley led their merger in 1930 to form Columbus Bank and Trust,[3] lead bank and predecessor company of the present-day Synovus, a regional bank located across five southeastern states.[4]
In 1895, Bradley purchased his brother-in-law's share of Carter and Bradley and renamed the business W. C. Bradley Co.[5] The W. C. Bradley Co. flourished over the next century, expanding into industries as diverse as textiles, outdoor and sports retail businesses, real estate, and barbecue grill manufacturing.[6] The company invented a standalone barbecue grill from its foundry capabilities and then founded Char-Broil in 1948 as the first significant manufacturer of charcoal grills for homeowners.
As of 2005, the company, still privately held, earned approximately $450 million in revenue and had an employee base of 2,500.[7]
The Coca-Cola Companyedit
In 1919, a group of investors headed by Ernest Woodruff and W. C. Bradley purchased The Coca-Cola Company for $25 million. The business was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation, and 500,000 shares of its common stock were sold publicly for $40 per share.[8]
Referencesedit
^ ab"W. C. Bradley", New Georgia Encyclopedia; retrieved January 2007
^"Coca-Cola Company", New Georgia Encyclopedia; retrieved January 2007
^"Synovus Financial Corporation", New Georgia Encyclopedia; retrieved January 2007
^"Company Information", Synovus Financial Corp.; retrieved January 2007
^A History of Innovation, W. C. Bradley Co.; retrieved January 2007
^Our Divisions, W. C. Bradley Co.; retrieved January 2007
^W. C. Bradley Company, New Georgia Encyclopedia; retrieved January 2007
^. www.coca-colacompany.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-18.
External linksedit
Synovus Financial Corp.
W. C. Bradley Co.
December 07, 2023
bradley, this, article, about, company, founded, william, clark, bradley, june, 1863, july, 1947, american, entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist, along, with, partner, gunby, jordan, founded, banks, that, eventually, merged, become, present, synovus, fina. This article is about the man For the company he founded see W C Bradley Co William Clark Bradley June 28 1863 July 26 1947 was an American entrepreneur businessman and philanthropist He along with partner G Gunby Jordan co founded two banks that eventually merged to become the present day Synovus Financial Corp He also formed the W C Bradley Co in 1885 by purchasing a cotton factoring firm and immediately expanding it into a diverse business spanning many different industries 1 Bradley also played a prominent role in the early history of The Coca Cola Company serving as its chairman of the board from 1919 to 1939 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Banking interests 2 2 W C Bradley Co 2 3 The Coca Cola Company 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editBradley was born in Russell County Alabama on June 28 1863 Career editIn 1885 he moved to nearby Columbus Georgia and began work as a clerk at the cotton factoring firm Bussey Goldsmith and Company He soon purchased the firm from its owners with the help of his brother in law Samuel A Carter They changed the name of the company to Carter and Bradley and immediately began to diversify its line of business into other areas including fertilizer sales and groceries 1 Banking interests edit Three years after his move to Columbus Bradley teamed with local businessman G Gunby Jordan to form the Third National Bank of Columbus and the Columbus Savings Bank As president of both banks Bradley led their merger in 1930 to form Columbus Bank and Trust 3 lead bank and predecessor company of the present day Synovus a regional bank located across five southeastern states 4 W C Bradley Co edit nbsp Main article W C Bradley Co In 1895 Bradley purchased his brother in law s share of Carter and Bradley and renamed the business W C Bradley Co 5 The W C Bradley Co flourished over the next century expanding into industries as diverse as textiles outdoor and sports retail businesses real estate and barbecue grill manufacturing 6 The company invented a standalone barbecue grill from its foundry capabilities and then founded Char Broil in 1948 as the first significant manufacturer of charcoal grills for homeowners As of 2005 the company still privately held earned approximately 450 million in revenue and had an employee base of 2 500 7 The Coca Cola Company edit In 1919 a group of investors headed by Ernest Woodruff and W C Bradley purchased The Coca Cola Company for 25 million The business was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation and 500 000 shares of its common stock were sold publicly for 40 per share 8 References edit a b W C Bradley New Georgia Encyclopedia retrieved January 2007 Coca Cola Company New Georgia Encyclopedia retrieved January 2007 Synovus Financial Corporation New Georgia Encyclopedia retrieved January 2007 Company Information Synovus Financial Corp retrieved January 2007 A History of Innovation W C Bradley Co retrieved January 2007 Our Divisions W C Bradley Co retrieved January 2007 W C Bradley Company New Georgia Encyclopedia retrieved January 2007 The Chronicle of Coca Cola A Man Named Woodruff The Coca Cola Company www coca colacompany com Archived from the original on 2014 04 18 External links editSynovus Financial Corp W C Bradley Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title W C Bradley amp oldid 1158931662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
