James "Jimmie" Williams interview, August 16, 2011
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Harvey Newman and Andrea Young. In this interview, James Williams discusses his work with the Whitehead Foundation, the Ivan Allen, Jr. administration, the work of Robert Woodruff, and the impact of Coca-Cola and the Olympics on the development of Atlanta. He talks about Andrew Young's contributions to city politics and administration. Finally he discusses the Atlanta Way and lessons from the past for the present leadership.
Dates
- Creation: August 16, 2011
Creator
- Williams, James B. (Interviewee) (Interviewee, Person)
Restrictions on Access
Available in Reading Room and online.
Biographical Note
James B. Williams, the now-retired chair of SunTrust Banks, chaired the board of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center for more than twenty years, overseeing a four-fold increase in health science research funding. Williams was elected to the board of trustees in 1973 and elevated to emeritus trustee in 2003. In the 1980s, he chaired a five-year, $220 million campaign that included the 1979 Woodruff gift. Williams's work was instrumental in the construction of nearly every health sciences building completed in the last quarter century -- the O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, a Yerkes expansion, the Whitehead Biomedical Research Building, the nursing school building, the new building for the Winship Cancer Institute, and the Emory-Children's Center building, chief among them. In 2009, Emory named its new medical education building in Williams's honor.
Extent
1 Interview(s) (1 folder, audio (49:05 duration))
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu