J. B. Fuqua

John Brooks "J.B." Fuqua (pronounced "few-kwa") (June 26, 1918 – April 5, 2006) was a businessman, philanthropist and chairman of The Fuqua Companies and Fuqua Enterprises.

A Bust of J.B. Fuqua in the Hall of Flags at the Fuqua School of Business

Born John Brooks Elam, Jr. in Prince Edward County, Virginia and raised on a small tobacco farm, Fuqua formed a number of successful business conglomerates. After listening to WRVA from an early age, pursued his interest in radio by earning his commercial operator's license at age 17.

Another of Fuqua's philanthropic projects was the Fuqua School in Farmville, Virginia, formerly the Prince Edward Academy. His gift of $10 million in 1993 and a subsequent donation of over $2 million were pledged with the goal of transforming the school from a small private institution on the verge of bankruptcy into a model for rural pre-K-12 education.

From the 1950s to the 1990s, Fuqua developed a sizable business empire: including Snapper lawnmower dealerships and multiple media outlets, among them a TV station with his initials — WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia.

Fuqua was active in politics for much of his life. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate, and he chaired the Democratic Party of Georgia from 1962 to 1966. He also was a close friend and supporter of presidents Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson, and former Savannah Mayor and billionaire Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.. In 2002, Fuqua was inducted into the Junior Achievement's U.S. Business Hall of Fame. His great grandfather, John Fuqua, is credited with founding the town of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.

External links

• New Georgia Encyclopedia Entry
• Description of Fuqua, J.B. Fuqua's Autobiography (ISBN 1-56352-680-8)