David Dodd

David Dodd
David Dodd (ca. 1948), taken by Emanuel "Manny" Warman (1915–1983), Columbia University's official photographer for 37 years (courtesy of Columbia University Archives)
Born	(1895-08-23)August 23, 1895 Berkeley County, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	September 18, 1988(1988-09-18) (aged 93) Portland, Maine, U.S.
Nationality	United States
Fields	Investment management, Economics
Institutions	Columbia Business School
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania Columbia University
Academic advisors	Benjamin Graham
Known for	Security Analysis
Influences	Benjamin Graham
Spouse	Elsie Marguerite Firor

David LeFevre Dodd (August 23, 1895 – September 18, 1988) was an American educator, financial analyst, author, economist, professional investor, and in his student years, a of, and as a postgraduate, close colleague of Benjamin Graham at Columbia Business School.

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 (Black Tuesday) almost wiped out Graham, who had started teaching the year before at his alma mater, Columbia. The inspired Graham to search for a more conservative, safer way to invest. Graham agreed to teach with the stipulation that someone take notes. Dodd, then a young instructor at Columbia, volunteered. Those transcriptions served as the basis for a 1934 book Security Analysis, which galvanized the concept of value investing. It is the longest running investment text ever published.

In 1916, Dodd graduated from High Street School, a high school in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where his father was the principal. In 1920, he completed his Bachelor of Science, at University of Pennsylvania. One year later, he received his Master of Science at Columbia University.

From 1922 to 1925, Dodd was an instructor of economics at Columbia University. From 1925 to 1930, he became an instructor of finance. From 1926 to 1945, he was in charge of the business and economics courses. In 1930, he received his PhD from Columbia University. From 1930 to 1938, Dodd was Assistant Professor of Finance, Columbia. From 1938 to 1947, he was Associate Professor, Columbia. From 1947 to 1961, he was Professor, Columbia. From 1948 to 1952, he was Associate Dean, Columbia Business School. In 1961, he retired as Professor Emeritus, Finance, Columbia. On May 17, 1984, on the 50th Anniversary of publishing Security Analysis, Michael I. Sovern, President of Columbia University, awarded David LeFevre Dodd a Doctor of Letters, an honorary degree, for applying financial theories with brilliant results in a highly competitive world of investments. Columbia President Michael Sovern bestowed the honor during Columbia's 230th commencement exercises.