Bruce C. Gottwald

Richmond businessman and philanthropist Bruce C. Gottwald Sr. has been a leading supporter of battlefield preservation and historic interpretation in Virginia. A longtime advocate for protecting Richmond's Civil War heritage, Gottwald has made significant contributions to preserving historic battlefield land and supporting the development of the American Civil War Museum.

Gottwald is the former chairman and CEO of NewMarket Corp., a Richmond-based petroleum additives company with roots dating to 1887 and three generations of family leadership. He served on the Civil War Trust's Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2017, providing leadership and financial support for the organization's preservation efforts.

“Bruce Gottwald and his family members have been preservation heroes for decades,” said former Trust President James Lighthizer. “They are deeply committed to Virginia history and to their community in the Richmond area. Bruce's dedication can be seen in his efforts to preserve the antebellum Tredegar Iron Works on the James River, his support of the American Civil War Center and at historic land bordering Richmond National Battlefield Park.”

Gottwald was instrumental in preserving the historic Tredegar Iron Works along the James River and supporting the creation of the American Civil War Center. He also played an important role in the center's merger with the Museum of the Confederacy to establish the American Civil War Museum.

His generosity has extended to the preservation of significant battlefield landscapes surrounding Richmond. In 2012, Gottwald donated $1 million toward the acquisition of land at Gaines' Mill Battlefield, helping protect the remarkably intact ground traversed by Confederate Gen. James Longstreet's troops during the 1862 battle.

A 1954 graduate of Virginia Military Institute, Gottwald also served on the institution's Board of Visitors and received its prestigious New Market Award in 2014.

In 2017, the Trust honored Gottwald with its Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his extraordinary generosity and longstanding commitment to protecting Virginia's historic battlefields.

Through his philanthropy and preservation leadership, Gottwald has helped safeguard irreplaceable historic landscapes and strengthen public understanding of Richmond's Civil War history.