W. C. Bradley
Encyclopedia
William Clark Bradley 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 1895 by purchasing a cotton factoring firm and immediately expanding it into a diverse business spanning many different industries. Bradley also played a prominent role in the early history of the The Coca-Cola Company
, serving as its Chairman of the Board from 1919-1939.
on June 28, 1863. He moved to nearby Columbus, Georgia
in 1885 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
.
, a regional bank holding company with ownership of 40 banks across five southeastern states.
In 1895, Bradley purchased his brother-in-law's share of Carter and Bradley and renamed the business W. C. Bradley Co. 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. As of 2005, the company, still privately held
, earned approximately $650 million in revenue and had an employee base of 2,500.
Synovus
Synovus is a financial services company with $29 billion in assets based in Columbus, Georgia. Synovus’ 30 locally-branded bank divisions provide commercial and retail banking, investment and mortgage services to customers in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee through 308...
He also formed the W. C. Bradley Co.
W. C. Bradley Co.
The W. C. Bradley Co. is a privately held company founded in 1885 as a “cotton factoring” business. Today the company includes divisions in textiles, farm implement manufacturing, row crop and livestock production, wholesale supply businesses for industrial and building contractors, and barbecue...
in 1895 by purchasing a cotton factoring firm and immediately expanding it into a diverse business spanning many different industries. Bradley also played a prominent role in the early history of the The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
, serving as its Chairman of the Board from 1919-1939.
Birth and early career
Bradley was born in Russell County, AlabamaRussell County, Alabama
Russell County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Gilbert C. Russell, who fought in the wars against the Creek Indians. As of 2010, the population was 52,947...
on June 28, 1863. He moved to nearby Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
in 1885 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
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
sales and groceries
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
.
Banking interests
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, lead bank and predecessor company of the present-day Synovus Financial Corp.Synovus
Synovus is a financial services company with $29 billion in assets based in Columbus, Georgia. Synovus’ 30 locally-branded bank divisions provide commercial and retail banking, investment and mortgage services to customers in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee through 308...
, a regional bank holding company with ownership of 40 banks across five southeastern states.
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. The W. C. Bradley Co. flourished over the next century, expanding into industries as diverse as textiles, outdoor and sports retail
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
businesses, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, and barbecue grill
Grill (cooking)
A barbecue grill is a device for cooking food by applying heat directly from below. There are several varieties of such grills, with most falling into one of two categories: gas-fueled and charcoal. There is a great debate over the merits of charcoal or gas for use as the cooking method between...
manufacturing. As of 2005, the company, still privately held
Privately held company
A privately held company or close corporation is a business company owned either by non-governmental organizations or by a relatively small number of shareholders or company members which does not offer or trade its company stock to the general public on the stock market exchanges, but rather the...
, earned approximately $650 million in revenue and had an employee base of 2,500.