Robert B. Pamplin
Encyclopedia
Robert Boisseau Pamplin (November 25, 1911 - June 24, 2009) was an American businessman and later philanthropist. A native of Virginia
, he rose through the ranks of Georgia-Pacific
where he later served as president and chairman of the board. He helped relocate the company to Portland, Oregon
, where he retired and resided until his death.
to Pauline Beville and John Robert Pamplin, attended Midway High School in Dinwiddie County, and in the Fall of 1929 began attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI). While at VPI, he was enrolled in the Corps of Cadets
. He graduated from VPI with a B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1933 and spent one year in graduate school studying business administration at Northwestern University
. He married Mary Katherine Reese on June 15, 1940 in Augusta, Georgia
. He has one son, Robert B. Pamplin, Jr, born on September 3, 1941 in Augusta.
, as one of five employees. In 1946, Georgia Hardwood was renamed Georgia-Pacific. He successively worked as accountant, secretary and treasurer, financial vice president, and president of Georgia-Pacific. In 1954, the company re-located its headquarters to Portland, Oregon
, partly in response to Pamplin's suggestion. Owen Robertson Cheatham, founder of Georgia-Pacific, asked him to move west with the company. He had a personal conflict working with Lewis A. Pick
(former Army Lt. General and VPI alumni) at Georgia-Pacific and terminated his employment on July 1, 1955.
After taking time off and traveling in Canada, he returned to Georgia-Pacific and served as President of the company from 1957 until his retirement in 1976. Robert B. Pamplin took Georgia-Pacific through a period of tremendous growth. When he started as President in 1957, annual sales were $121 million and profits were $7.4 million. At the time of his retirement, Georgia Pacific had sales of $3 billion and profits of $215 million.
. He contributed greatly to his alma mater VPI, now known as Virginia Tech. Pamplin Hall
at VPI was named in his honor in 1969 and the Pamplin College of Business Administration was named for him in 1988. His wife died in December 2008. Robert Pamplin died on June 24, 2009, in Dunthorpe, Oregon
, near Portland at the age of 97.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, he rose through the ranks of Georgia-Pacific
Georgia-Pacific
Georgia-Pacific LLC is an American pulp and paper company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building products and related chemicals. As of Fall 2010, the company employed more than 40,000 people at more...
where he later served as president and chairman of the board. He helped relocate the company to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he retired and resided until his death.
Early life
He was born on a small family farm in Dinwiddie County, VirginiaDinwiddie County, Virginia
Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,001. Its county seat is Dinwiddie.- History :...
to Pauline Beville and John Robert Pamplin, attended Midway High School in Dinwiddie County, and in the Fall of 1929 began attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI). While at VPI, he was enrolled in the Corps of Cadets
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in dormitories, march to meals in formation, wear a distinctive uniform on campus, and receive an intensive military and leadership...
. He graduated from VPI with a B.S. degree in Business Administration in 1933 and spent one year in graduate school studying business administration at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He married Mary Katherine Reese on June 15, 1940 in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. He has one son, Robert B. Pamplin, Jr, born on September 3, 1941 in Augusta.
Career
In 1934, Pamplin joined Georgia Hardwood in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, as one of five employees. In 1946, Georgia Hardwood was renamed Georgia-Pacific. He successively worked as accountant, secretary and treasurer, financial vice president, and president of Georgia-Pacific. In 1954, the company re-located its headquarters to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, partly in response to Pamplin's suggestion. Owen Robertson Cheatham, founder of Georgia-Pacific, asked him to move west with the company. He had a personal conflict working with Lewis A. Pick
Lewis A. Pick
Lewis Andrew Pick was born in Brookneal, Virginia, and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1914. He received his Regular Army commission in the United States Army Corps of Engineers on July 1, 1920....
(former Army Lt. General and VPI alumni) at Georgia-Pacific and terminated his employment on July 1, 1955.
After taking time off and traveling in Canada, he returned to Georgia-Pacific and served as President of the company from 1957 until his retirement in 1976. Robert B. Pamplin took Georgia-Pacific through a period of tremendous growth. When he started as President in 1957, annual sales were $121 million and profits were $7.4 million. At the time of his retirement, Georgia Pacific had sales of $3 billion and profits of $215 million.
Later life
He created the R. B. Pamplin Corporation in 1957 in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He contributed greatly to his alma mater VPI, now known as Virginia Tech. Pamplin Hall
Virginia Tech campus
The Virginia Tech campus is located in Blacksburg, Virginia; the central campus is roughly bordered by Prices Fork Road to the northwest, Plantation Drive to the west, Main Street to the east, and U.S. Route 460 bypass to the south, although it also has several thousand acres beyond the central...
at VPI was named in his honor in 1969 and the Pamplin College of Business Administration was named for him in 1988. His wife died in December 2008. Robert Pamplin died on June 24, 2009, in Dunthorpe, Oregon
Dunthorpe, Oregon
Dunthorpe is an unincorporated suburb of Portland, Oregon, United States. It is located just south of the Portland city limits and north of the Multnomah County line on the west side of the Willamette River. Lewis & Clark College and Lake Oswego are nearby....
, near Portland at the age of 97.
Honors
- Robert B. Pamplin, Sr. received Northwestern University's Merit Award in 1966.
- The indoor athletic facility at Lewis & Clark CollegeLewis & Clark CollegeLewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
in Portland, Oregon was named the Pamplin Sports Center in 1968. - Served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1971 to 1979.
- Awarded the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of PortlandUniversity of PortlandThe University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
in 1972. - Awarded the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1973.
- Named the Virginian of the Year by the Virginia Press Association in 1976.
See also
- Mount Vernon Mill No. 3Mount Vernon Mill No. 3Mount Vernon Mill No. 3 is a textile denim mill and is located in Trion, Georgia. Trion, which is a very small town in Chattooga County, runs off of Mount Vernon Mill No. 3. Mount Vernon pays about eighty percent of Trion's taxes....