This timeline neatly summarizes the events that shaped Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company’s first 100 years.
1880s
January 29, 1878
William Mark Mauldin is born.
October 5, 1885
Mayme Williams Mauldin is born.
1886
First Coca-Cola served at Jacobs Pharmacy in Atlanta.
1888
Asa Candler acquires the rights to Coca-Cola.
1890s
1899
Ben Thomas and Joseph Whitehead acquire the bottling rights for virtually all of the U.S. from Asa Candler and Thomas started the first bottling company in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1900s
1902
Luther Snyder starts Charlotte Coca-Cola with J.T. Lupton and Joseph Whitehead.
February 11, 1904
Mark Mauldin and Mayme Williams marry.
November 6, 1904
Frederic Cecil Mauldin is born.
April 1, 1906
Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company begins operations on Elm Street in downtown Rock Hill.
1908
Original Rock Hill Coca-Cola building burns.
March 21, 1908
Margaret Frances Mauldin is born.
November 24, 1908
Mark Mauldin purchases Rock Hill Coca-Cola for $4750.00 from Luther Snyder, Lettie Whitehead and Miss Helen Conkey.
January 1, 1909
Mark Mauldin begins operating Rock Hill Coca-Cola in a building on West Main Street.
1910s
1910
Mark Mauldin sells Blacksburg and Gaffney territory to J. W. Allen of Spartanburg for $325.00.
1913
Rock Hill Coca-Cola moves to a new building at the corner of Trade Street and Moore Street.
July 4, 1913
William Mark Mauldin, Jr. is born.
1915
Standardized hoopskirt bottle is introduced.
January 16, 1915
Mary Louise Mauldin is born.
1919
Earnest Woodruff buys the Coca-Cola Company from children of Asa Candler.
1920s
1923
Robert Woodruff named President of the Coca-Cola Company.
January 28, 1923
Elizabeth Williams Mauldin is born.
1930s
1934
W.M. Mauldin, Jr. graduates from the University of Virginia and begins work in New York.
November 3, 1937
Margaret Mauldin dies.
1937
W.M. (Billy) Mauldin, Jr. begins career with Rock Hill Coca-Cola
1940s
December 7, 1941
Rock Hill Coca-Cola moves to new building at 520 York (Cherry Road) Avenue.
October 17, 1945
Mary Mauldin Zimmerman dies.
1950s
1954
Mark Mauldin builds beach house at 5000 N. Ocean Blvd. in Myrtle Beach, S.C. This is the family’s third beach house in Myrtle Beach. Previous houses were at 29th and 41st N. Ocean Blvd.
1956
Rock Hill Coca-Cola celebrates 50th Anniversary.
April 16, 1958
William Mark Mauldin dies.
1958
Billy Mauldin named President of Rock Hill Coca-Cola Company.
1960s
1961
Sprite introduced
1963
Tab introduced as company’s first diet drink.
April 26, 1969
Cecil Mauldin dies.
September 13, 1969
Mayme Mauldin dies.
1970s
July 1972
Fred Faircloth, III begins work at Rock Hill Coca-Cola.
1976
South Atlantic Canners opens in Bishopville, S.C.
1980s
1982
Diet Coke introduced.
March 7, 1985
Robert Woodruff dies.
April 1985
New Coke introduced.
1986
The Coca-Cola Company celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
1990s
May 1994
Rock Hill Coca-Cola ceases production in Rock Hill and utilizes its co-op, South Atlantic Canners, for almost all of its product.
July 1995
Billy Mauldin retires from active employment after 58 years of service.
1999
Chattanooga Coca-Cola, the first bottling company celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
2000s
2002
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (Charlotte) celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
March 23, 2002
W.M. (Billy) Mauldin, Jr. dies. He was President of Rock Hill Coca-Cola for 44 years.
June 1, 2002
Rock Hill Coca-Cola moves to new building at 2211 Mauldin Drive after 61 years at 520 N. Cherry Road.
June 2002
Fred Faircloth, III, named President of Rock Hill Coca-Cola.
April 1, 2006
Rock Hill Coca-Cola celebrates 100th Anniversary.