To say that John E. Aderhold loved downtown Atlanta, as the businessman and developer’s son Tom noted to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution late this summer, seems like an understatement. Many love the bustling heart of Atlanta’s capital. But few can claim that their love of the city has played such an integral role in shaping its future as did that of Aderhold, who died Aug. 10 at age 85.
Born and bred in Atlanta, Aderhold earned a degree in electrical engineering from Tech in 1945. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the U.S. Navy. Then, in 1967, he returned to Tech for his master’s in science in industrial engineering. He worked for a time at Rayloc, Inc., retired as Chairman and CEO, then turned his energy to his city.
Acting as a liaison between the Georgia World Congress Center and local government, he was a driving force in the development of the Georgia Dome, and his Aderhold Properties group backed such projects as Underground Atlanta and the transformation of the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills buildings into the Cabbagetown Stacks loft apartments, among others.
Aderhold served as director on a number of local boards, including Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. He co-chaired the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta, spearheading local efforts to prepare the city to host the world at the 1996 summer games.
He continued to support the Institute as well, serving as President of the Alumni Association (1976), chair of the Georgia Tech Foundation (1987-1989) and on the Georgia Tech Foundation’s Real Estate Committee until his death.
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