Samuel Candler Dobbs
{{Short description|American businessman (1868–1950)}}
Samuel Candler Dobbs (November 8, 1868 – October 31, 1950{{cite web|title=Samuel Candler Dobbs (1868-1950)|url=https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38970360|website=Find a Grave|accessdate=4 September 2017}}) was president (1919-1920) and chairman of The Coca-Cola Company, from 1919 to 1922.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,821393,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930082352/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,821393,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2007|title=-- Monday, Nov. 13, 1950 -- Page 1|date=November 13, 1950|magazine=Time| accessdate=2007-01-13}}
Early life and education
Dobbs was born on November 8, 1868, in Georgia. He was the son of Harris Henry Dobbs,{{cite web|url=http://gatheringleaves.org/p19.htm#i908|title=Gathering Leaves - A Family History Encyclopedia - Person Page 19|accessdate=2007-01-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216093649/http://gatheringleaves.org/p19.htm#i908|archivedate=2006-12-16}} and nephew of Asa Griggs Candler, founder of The Coca-Cola Company.
Career
Dobbs began his career as an Atlanta-based Coca-Cola salesman, during which he persuaded Joe Biedenharn of the Biedenharn Candy Company to set up a Coca-Cola dispenser in this store and order the beverage on a regular basis, thereby fueling sales and recognition of the Coca-Cola name.{{cite web|url=http://www.bmuseum.org/cocacola.htm|title=Joe Biedenharn & Coca-Cola|work=The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens|accessdate=2007-01-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223081122/http://www.bmuseum.org/cocacola.htm|archivedate=2007-02-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/chapter/tedlow.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970617010958/http://www.businessweek.com/chapter/tedlow.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 1997|title=New and Improved: The Story of Mass Marketing in America|work=Business Week|accessdate=2007-01-13}} Dobbs later became the company's sales manager and president.
In 1909, Dobbs became president of the Associated Advertising Clubs of America, now the American Advertising Federation (AAF), and began to make speeches on the subject.{{cite web|url=http://www.advertisinghalloffame.org/members/member_bio.php?memid=602|title=Samuel Chandler Dobbs (1868-1950). Inducted 1953|accessdate=2007-01-13}}
Dobbs played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in 1912. {{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Celeste |date=2015-01-26 |title=The Evolution of the Better Business Bureau |url=https://www.cdomagazine.tech/others/article_d170b62b-4a83-5084-940a-3bdd525632fc.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=CDO Magazine |language=en}}
Philanthropy and legacy
In January 1939, Dobbs made a $1,000,000 unrestricted gift to the Emory University.{{cite web|url=http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/department_info/history/chapter3.html|title=Chapter 3: The war and the post-war years: Start of the doctoral program, 1940-50|work=History of Emory|accessdate=2007-01-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071207155636/http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/department_info/history/chapter3.html|archivedate=2007-12-07}} Several endowed chairs are named after him.{{cite web|url=http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/department_info/history/chapter7.html|title=Chapter 7: The recent years; the Emerson Center; Cherry Logan Emerson Hall, 1983-2001|work=History of Emory|accessdate=2007-01-13|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216012153/http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/department_info/history/chapter7.html|archivedate=2007-02-16}}{{Cite web |url=http://anthropology.emory.edu/home/people/faculty/konner.html |title=Melvin Konner, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor |access-date=2017-05-08 |archive-date=2017-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506182237/http://anthropology.emory.edu/home/people/faculty/konner.html |url-status=dead }} Additionally, Dobbs was a member and president of the Board of Trustees at Reinhardt University, donating thousands of dollars, most notably to build an academic building in 1926, which is named in his honor. {{Cite web |last=Lathem |first=Molly |date=2022-10-28 |title=Samuel C. Dobbs, a Legacy of Generosity |url=https://www.reinhardt.edu/samuel-c-dobbs-a-legacy-of-generosity/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Reinhardt University |language=en-US}}