Wood, Robert Elkington (1879-1969), an American industrialist and soldier, helped make Sears, Roebuck and Company one of the world’s largest general merchandising firms. Wood joined Sears as a vice-president. He persuaded the mail-order firm to enter the retail field. He became president in 1928 and chairman of the board in 1939. He retired in 1954, but continued as a board member until 1968, when he became honorary board chairman.
Wood was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from the United States military Academy in 1900. During World War I (1914-1918), he held the rank of brigadier general and served as commander of the quartermaster corps.
