Georgia Tech Athletics Donor Profile: Stan Goodroe

Stan Goodroe followed his heart to Georgia Tech. Well, sort of.

The Dalton, Georgia native had distinguished himself as a top-flight high school football player, drawing interest from some of the south's powerhouse programs, including Alabama and Auburn.

However, Boddy Dodd's Yellow Jackets weren't really on his radar, but they eventually won his services. How?

"I hate to say it, but the reason I chose Georgia Tech was that I was dating a girl that was going to Agnes Scott," he admitted. "I really didn't know much about the school."

So in 1956, Goodroe make the trek to Atlanta, not quite knowing what was in store for him at Georgia Tech. Luckily, the experience turned into something special, and Georgia Tech was fortunate to gain one of its most ardent supporters over the past four decades.

On the football field, Goodroe played both ways, nose guard on defense and right guard on offense. He lettered during the 1958 season.

"Coach Dodd was one-of-a-kind," he stated. "You just don't meet many people like him. He truly cared for his players and treated us like men."

"I had gotten into some trouble, and I wasn't going to play football again. It would have been easy to cast me aside. He still stuck by me, and that meant a lot to me. That says a lot about the kind of man that he was."

In the classroom, Goodroe was a bit overwhelmed. An Industrial Management major, he was unaware of the Tech's vaunted reputation for challenging coursework.

"I wasn't much of an academic," he said. "I got out despite that, basically because Coach Dodd helped by making sure we all went to class and did the right things. Back in those days, you had to have a certain grade point average just to play, and I didn't know that when I first got there. He called me into his office and said, 'You've got to have at least a 1.7 or 1.8 to play.'

"I said, 'What? I thought I was doing great,' because I had a 1.1," he laughed.

Following his graduation in 1962, Goodroe returned to Dalton and joined one of his father's companies, Dorsett Industries. For the last 42 years, he has led the automotive textile company as the CEO. He has been honored numerous times within the industry, including a lifetime achievement award from the Automotive Service Industry of America.

His success in business has allowed him and wife Janet to give back both to the community and Georgia Tech. Goodroe is a Life Member of the Alexander-Tharpe Fund and has played a key role in the Building a Competitive Advantage initiative. He is also in his third year as a member of the A-T board or trustees.

"It's been very gratifying to be able to serve in this capacity," said Goodroe, who attends most football and basketball games. "It's a chance to see up close how special the Tech students, coaches and administrators are. Coach Dodd was a big influence in my life, so it's an honor to be able to give back in any way that I can."