D. W. Brooks

David William Brooks
Born	1901 Royston, Georgia
Died	1999 Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation	Farmer; businessman
Spouse	Ruth McMurray
Children	David William Brooks Jr. & Nancy Ruth Brooks
Parents	Lettie Jane Tabor & David William Brooks

David William Brooks (September 11, 1901 – August 5, 1999) was an American farmer and businessman.

Born in Royston, Georgia, Brooks enrolled at the age of 16 at the University of Georgia (UGA) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (1922) and an Master of Science in Agriculture (1924). While working on his Masters, Brooks also taught agronomy at UGA as an instructor. He started his first farm cooperative, Georgia Cotton Growers Cooperative Association, in [1921] while still at UGA.

When this initial cooperative failed in 1933, Brooks started a new one under the name Georgia Cotton Producers Association. The name was changed to Cotton Producers Association (CPA) the following year and was eventually renamed Gold Kist in 1974. Brooks retired as Chairman of the Board of Gold Kist and was awarded the title of Chairman emeritus.

Brooks also founded several insurance companies that served the farming communities, Cotton Farmers Mutual Insurance Association (1941) and Cotton States Life and Health (1955)

On the UGA campus, a faculty award in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a road and pedestrian mall are named in honor of Brooks.

References

• D.W. Brooks Collection at the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
• D.W. Brooks Awards History and Bio
• Cooperative Hall of Fame bio
• University of Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame
• New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Gold Kist

Persondata
Name	Brooks, D.W.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 11, 1901
Place of birth	Royston, Georgia
Date of death	August 5, 1999
Place of death	Atlanta, Georgia