J. Mack Robinson: From Paper Route to Global Business Leader

In 1998, the Georgia State University College of Business was re-named the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, after the Georgian businessman and philanthropist. 

From his first job at the age of 10 through a lifetime of leadership in business, J. Mack Robinson made a career of giving back to his native Atlanta.

Humble Beginnings

Robinson began his career at the age of 10, serving as a “helper” at The Atlanta Journal. By 15, he had risen to a position in the main office as circulation district manager. Since Robinson paid for the papers he sold, he learned early on that working harder yielded greater profits. At 15 years old, Robinson was able to purchase his first car — a 1931 Model A Ford — with his savings.

In preparation to attend Emory University, Robinson enrolled in a class at the Evening School of Commerce after he graduated high school. The Evening School of Commerce would ultimately become Georgia State University.

His plans for school were altered when he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Thanks to the Army Signal Corps, Robinson was able to continue his education at Georgia Tech and Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), returning home to Atlanta after a three-year tour of duty in Washington D.C.

From Newspaper Salesman to Financial Leader

Back in Atlanta, Robinson’s connections from his first job at the Journal would lead to life changing opportunities.

“I was working at the Journal, and they allowed me to start my own business,” Robinson said. “I decided to sell used cars because it looked so easy.”

Cars were in high demand after the close of World War II, and Robinson’s two used car lots — Baker Street Motors and Robinson Motors — produced great profits.

The up-and-coming businessman opened several more lots throughout Atlanta and other areas in Georgia. The venture was not without its hardships, but Robinson learned that business success comes not from perfection, but from the humility it takes to accept when things go wrong.

In May of 1948, Robinson decided to form the Dixie Finance Company. The decision was a practical one. He’d thus far been financing his cars with a local bank and with an automobile finance company in Chicago that required his personal guarantee on every contract for cars more than 3 years old.

Realizing his penchant for the financial industry, Robinson sold his car lots and expanded his finance business to 107 cities in the south over the course of 20 years.

Robinson generated enough auto and credit life insurance with his finance business that he was then able to form his own insurance company, Delta Life Insurance Company and Delta Fire & Casualty Insurance Company. The Robinson family still owns both businesses.

Dressed to Impress

In the early 1960’s, Robinson decided to invest in a new and surprising venture: fashion. As the owner of a Swiss insurance company, Robinson was to connect with Yves Saint Laurent, who was looking for a financial backer to start his own house of haute couture. Robinson decided to personally invest in Saint Laurent’s venture, resulting in a massive commute: “[f]or about four years, I was in Paris at least every 90 days, and all of the flights were from New York City,” Robinson recalled.

In 1966, he made the difficult decision to sell his partnership for $1 million in order to avoid moving his family.

After selling his partnership, Robinson purchased two banks in Roswell and Alpharetta, Georgia, which quickly grew into 22 community banks with branches in 50 cities. As a result, Robinson came to be a leader in banking in Georgia. He attributed much of his success to the commitment of his employees, many of whom stayed with him for more than 30 years.

Throughout Robinson’s life, inspirations like his father and Robert W. Woodruff helped shape his career and ethics. His father helped to encourage his hard work and financial intelligence, while Woodruff influenced Robinson through his many philanthropic efforts.

Looking Forward

“I think Atlanta is the New York of the South, except that it can grow in every direction,” Robinson said of his vision for Atlanta. “New York can’t grow anymore, and I truly believe Atlanta will be just as important as New York.”

Robinson’s influences helped shape Georgia State University from a humble school to the well-respected institution of higher learning that it is today.

In 1998, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved renaming the College of Business Administration after Robinson, a decision which came with a $10 million endowment from Mr. Robinson.

“I hope to see my gift used to keep attracting top faculty, because if you’re going to be at the top of the competition, you have to attract the top people,” Robinson said. “I believe in this city and this college’s potential to be the finest business school in the nation.”

regions: Atlanta

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