Robert Maddox

For the American football player, see Robert Maddox (coach).

Robert Foster Maddox (April 4, 1870 – 1965) was the 41st Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.

Son of early Atlanta settler and war hero Robert Flournoy Maddox, he was educated in public school, and then attending the University of Georgia until 1887 when he completed studies at Harvard.

He was Chairman of the board of the Atlanta & Lowry National Bank part of which had been founded by his father. In 1908, he served as a Fulton County Commissioner and the next year he was elected Atlanta's mayor. He had an active term, issuing the city's first large bond ($3 million) which was used for new schools, sewage disposal plants and enlarging the city's water works. He also had built an addition to Grady Memorial Hospital and via many trips to Washington, D.C. was able to purchase the old post office for $70,000 to be used as city hall. During his term, the city doubled in scope: adding Oakland City amongst other neighborhoods.

When he was in his 80s, Vernon E. Jordan Jr. served as his chauffeur.

Maddox Park in Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood is named in his honor. The park was dedicated in 1931. He lies in the Maddox mausoleum (with his father) in Oakland Cemetery.

Maddox Road in Morrow, Ga is named after him, along with a Clayton County Parks and Recreation park, playground, and basketball court in Morrow, Ga.

References

Preceded by W.R. Joyner

Mayor of Atlanta January 1909 – January 1911

Succeeded by Courtland S. Winn

External links

• "American Odyssey", Newsweek, Oct 29, 2001