Robert Foster Maddox (1870-1964) was a banker, civic leader and the 39th mayor of Atlanta. He was known as "Mr. Atlanta." Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Colonel Robert Flourney Maddox (1829-1899) and Nancy Reynolds (1838-1890), he married Lorrah "Lollie" Lavender Baxter (1876-1955), grand-daughter of Judge Nathaniel Baxter Sr. of Nashville, Tennessee. They had six children: Robert Foster Maddox Jr. (1895-1949), Nathaniel Baxter Maddox (1901-1993), Edward Flourney Maddox (1906-1907), William Reynolds Maddox (1910-1911), James Laurence Maddox (1912-1914), and Laura Baxter Maddox (1917-2009).

Maddox attended the University of Georgia until 1887, after which he completed his studies at Harvard University. Upon graduation Maddox-Rucker Banking Company (later known as American National Bank), which his father founded in 1868, employed him as a collector. He became Vice President by 1909. In 1908 Maddox became the Fulton County Commissioner, then a year later, he was elected Mayor of Atlanta, where he served one year before returning to his position in banking. During his term, he issued the city’s first large bond ($3 million) which was used for new schools, sewage disposal plants, and enlarging the city's water works. Privately he funded a wing on Grady Hospital and for the conversion of the old post office into city hall.

Maddox worked in banking for over seventy five years and was active on many boards. Some titles he held include: President of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Georgia Bankers Association, President of Atlanta and Florida Railroad, Vice President of the United States Chamber of Commerce (1914-1917), President of the American Banking Association (1918), President of Atlanta National Bank which(1889-1964), and Director of the National Organization of Community Chest later known as United Way (1935).