Dr. Robert Cade

Dr. Robert “Bob” Cade Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Florida.

I received the commission to paint Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade. The request from the University of Florida was that it should not be an ordinary coat and tie oil painting. It also should represent his work at the University. Fortunately there was a suitable picture of him in a Florida jacket sitting at a table with his products in front of him. To add to the portrait I envisioned a background of glass beakers, to signify research. I added the original bottle of Stokley VanCamp’s Gatorade and the jacket plainly connects him to the University of Florida.

All bases covered. Previously I would explain to the committee my version for the painting but now thanks to my husbands superior computer skills he
could produce an image of my ideas. Thus was the beginning of our collaboration. I now had the capability to produce a digital image for my clients to approve. The oil painting now hangs at the University of Florida.

Subsequently, I also painted a personal oil of Dr. Cade in his favorite red sweater standing next to one of his prized antique Studebaker’s.