Who Is Robert Cade? Age, Biography and Wiki
Robert Cade was born on September 26, 1927, which makes him 97 years old in 2025. Renowned for his significant contributions to medical science, Cade is best known as the co-inventor of Gatorade, a popular sports drink that has transformed hydration for athletes worldwide. His groundbreaking work in nephrology further cemented his status as a pioneering medical figure.
| Occupation | Physiologist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 26, 1927 |
| Age | 80 Years |
| Birth Place | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 27 November, 2007 |
| Died Place | Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
Popularity
Robert Cade's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While Robert Cade's specific height and weight are not publicly documented, it is worth noting that his contributions to fitness and health through the Gatorade brand continue to influence individuals regardless of physical metrics. His impact is measured not just in numbers but in the millions of lives improved by proper hydration.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Robert Cade was married to his wife, a source of support throughout his career, and they shared a close bond until his passing. While there is limited information regarding his dating life outside of marriage, Cade's commitment to his family and professional endeavors showcased a life enriched by both personal and scientific achievements.
During 1965 and 1966, Cade, together with his team of research doctors Dana Shires, James Free, and Alejandro M.
de Quesada, conducted a series of trial-and-error experiments with his glucose-and-electrolytes rehydration drink on members of the Gators football team of coach Ray Graves, first with members of the freshman squad, and after initially promising results, with starting members of the varsity team.
"It didn't taste like Gatorade," Cade said in a 1988 interview with Florida Trend magazine. In fact, according to Cade, when Gators lineman Larry Gagner first tried it, he spat it out and strongly suggested that the original experimental formula tasted more like bodily waste.
Dana Shires remembered that "it sort of tasted like toilet bowl cleaner." To make it more palatable, at the suggestion of Cade's wife, the researchers added lemon juice and cyclamate to the original formula of water, salt, sodium citrate, fructose and monopotassium phosphate.
Net Worth and Salary
Before his passing, Robert Cade's net worth was estimated to be in the range of millions due to the success of Gatorade and his ongoing research contributions. Although the exact figures are not publicly available, Gatorade's brand value and its widespread use in sports and fitness have ensured that Cade's legacy remains financially fruitful.
Career, Business and Investments
Cade's career as a medical doctor and research scientist set the foundation for his groundbreaking invention of Gatorade in 1965. The drink was initially developed to help University of Florida football players maintain hydration and electrolyte balance during intense games. Following this success, Cade ventured into patenting and marketing his invention, leading to the founding of a global brand that has become synonymous with sports hydration.
In addition to Gatorade, Cade's research in kidney diseases and public health significantly impacted medical practices and protocols. He continued to promote health and wellness through various collaborative projects and initiatives post-retirement.
After being discharged from the navy, he enrolled in the University of Texas. He completed four years of undergraduate coursework in two calendar years, and graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1950. He was also a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity while at the University of Texas.
In 1953, he married Mary Strasburger, a nurse from Dallas, Texas, whom he had met while he was in medical school.
After graduating with his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 1954, Cade completed his internship at the Saint Louis City Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri and did his residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.
He also served fellowships at his alma mater, Southwestern Medical School, and Cornell University Medical College in New York City. In 1961, Cade joined the faculty of the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida, as an assistant professor of internal medicine in its renal division.
Social Network
While Robert Cade may not have had an active presence on social media platforms, his work and contributions have been widely acknowledged and shared across various networks, particularly in health and wellness communities. His influence can still be felt in the numerous discussions surrounding sports science, hydration, and nutrition that flourish on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and specialized health blogs.
Cade patented the formula and offered all the rights to the drink to the University of Florida in exchange for the university's backing of the production and marketing of the drink, but the university turned down his proposal.
He initially obtained bank financing and began to produce "Gatorade" through his own business, but later entered into a contract with Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. to produce and sell the drink. When sales royalties reached $200,000, the university took notice. The Florida Board of Regents, prompted by the U.S.
Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which had provided Cade with a small grant for his research, asked for the patent rights. Cade refused.
The Board of Regents, acting on behalf of the university, then brought suit against Cade for a share of the profits, arguing that the university's facilities, employees and students were instrumental in the development of the product.
After thirty-one months of legal wrangling, Cade and the university negotiated a settlement of their dispute in 1972, and the Board of Regents and the university settled for a twenty percent share of the royalties. Cade, and his investors in the Gatorade Trust, retained eighty percent.
In the aftermath of the settlement, Cade and the university resolved their differences amicably, and expanded their professional relationships—of the first $70,500 in Gatorade royalties received by the university, the university reinvested $30,000 in kidney research by Cade's renal department and another $12,000 in Cade's other research projects.
Cade, for his part, created multiple scholarships and contributed generously to the university from his own royalties over the following years.
Education
Cade received his medical degree from the University of Florida, where his passion for nephrology began. His educational journey laid a solid foundation for his future innovations in medical science and public health. His commitment to education continued as he mentored future generations of medical professionals, ensuring that his legacy would live on through others.
James Robert Cade (September 26, 1927 – November 27, 2007) was an American physician, university professor, research scientist and inventor. Cade, a native of Texas, earned his bachelor and medical degrees at the University of Texas, and became a professor of medicine and nephrology at the University of Florida.
Although Cade engaged in many areas of medical research, he is most widely remembered as the leader of the research team that created the sports drink Gatorade. Gatorade would have significant medical applications for treating dehydration in patients, and has generated over $150 million in royalties for the university.
