Rodney Rood ’38

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As a youth, Rodney Rood was thrilled to witness the first Olympic Games ever held in Los Angeles. Still deeply committed to the Olympic spirit more than 50 years later, Rood became one of a group of Los Angeles leaders who conceived and negotiated the first “Businessmen’s Olympics” in history, bringing the Games back to Los Angeles in 1984 without financial burden to the city.

For 32 years, Rood was associated with Atlantic-Richfield Co., retiring in 1985 as vice president emeritus. His company became one of the largest sponsors of the Olympic Games, providing funds for a major refurbishment of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and building training tracks around the city, which have now become an Olympic legacy to our youth.

In many other ways in his life, Rood has been deeply committed to the arts, government, education, health care, and the business and professional life of his community. He has volunteered his services to many community activities. He was honored by the King of Norway for leadership of the 1983 Scandinavia Today cultural festival.

As we reflect today on the extraordinary impact that the 1984 Games had on the life and pride of our city, we realize the debt of gratitude owed to Rodney Rood for his vision and persistence in going forward with a bold and innovative plan.