John Winston Rooker

Jack Rooker, a long-time leader in commercial real estate development, known for his philanthropy, good humor and insightful advice, died Saturday, December 13, 2025. He was surrounded by four generations of his devoted family, as he faced his final journey. His health had been failing in recent years. He was 87 years old.

John Winston Rooker was the son of Mary Winston Rooker and William Augustus Rooker. He was born in Atlanta on May 28, 1938. He attended E. Rivers Elementary School and played football for The Westminster Schools, graduating in 1956. His next move shaped much of his future. In the family tradition of 10 other Rookers , he attended the University of Georgia. He was a member of the SAE fraternity and graduated from the Terry College of Business. As a student, he worked at the Red & Black Newspaper and began his lifetime of entrepreneurship. Soon after graduation, friends and family members launched the First Fulton Corporation, to which each donated $50 and later $100 monthly, with plans to “do something big for UGA.” The fund increased over the years with each successful real estate transaction, and by 2016 the funds had multiplied significantly, with proceeds being donated to the Terry College of Business.

Jack was a champion for the University of Georgia. He served as the Chair of the UGA Foundation and later founded the UGA Real Estate Foundation. His legacy continues at the Rooker Family Equine Receiving Barn and Moore-Rooker Hall at the Terry College of Business. He was honored by the University in 2005 with the naming of the John W. Rooker Hall, a student dormitory located in the East Campus Village. His many contributions earned the Rooker Family the honor of being the UGA Family of the Year in 2022. He rarely missed a home football game in Athens.

A quiet leader, he mentored young people eager to attend UGA and often went behind the scenes to help others. A man of few words, Jack’s one-liners could be subtle or funny, but when he spoke, everyone listened. One of his favorite “Rookerisms” was “The main thing is to keep the main thing…the main thing.”

In 1965, Jack formed John W. Rooker & Associates—a real estate development, design and construction company. He loved walking the land as much as investing in it and was often seen in cowboy boots and a cowboy-style hard hat overseeing construction. For decades, he cruised dusty construction sites in his black Lincoln Town Car. Over the years, he built facilities for the Ford Motor Company, Siemans, Haverty’s, Mead Corporation, Nabisco, Home Depot and Office Depot to name a few. In 1995, he was named SIOR Industrial Developer of the Year.

In 1974, Jack married Cynthia Wilkins, blending his two daughters with her two daughters, and later welcoming their son, John. The greatest tradition that Jack & Cindy created is an annual family trip that has grown to nearly 30 members. Known to be social, Jack loved parties and being with friends. He met regularly with several groups: Westminster classmates, the Buckhead Boys, and YPO Forum I (Young Presidents Organization). The Rooker family is involved in the First Presbyterian Church, The Westminster Schools, the Forward Arts Foundation, Shepherd Center Foundation, Piedmont Hospital Foundation, CHOA (Children’s Hospital of Atlanta), and Emory University Hospital. He was a member of Peachtree Golf Club, Piedmont Driving Club, Highlands Country Club, Burge Plantation and the Keeneland Association, Inc. in Lexington, Kentucky.

Jack owned several farms over the years, most notably Westover Ridge in Lexington— “sweet heaven” to Jack and Cindy where they could see a horse out of every window of the house they built. There they bred thoroughbreds and enjoyed attending sales and races. Jack enjoyed fishing and golf, and he and Cindy indulged in hunting across the country and abroad. He was also famous for his love of Golden Double Stuffed Oreos.

Jack is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cynthia Wilkins Rooker of Atlanta; daughter, Spalding Rooker of Alamo, California; Stewart Rooker Taylor and her husband, Clay, of Nashville, Tennessee; John William Rooker and his wife, April, of Athens, Georgia; Cynthia Robinson Fox and her husband, Bill, of Eclectic, Alabama; Cater Robinson Carlton and her husband, Chris, of Atlanta. “GrandJack” will be missed by his 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, William Augustus Rooker, Jr. and Penn Winston Rooker.

There will be a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, Friday, December 19th at 2 p.m. The family suggests donations to these organizations close to Jack’s heart: Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309; or www.Shepherd.org; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 or firstpresatl.org.