J. Sargeant Reynolds

Julian Sargeant Reynolds (June 30, 1936-June 13, 1971) of Richmond, Virginia was a teacher, businessman, and politician. He served in both the House and Senate of the Virginia General Assembly and served as Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He died of an inoperable brain tumor at age 34, while in office as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor.

He is best remembered for advocating Virginia's Community College System. J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College was named in his honor after his death in 1971.

Youth, education, career, family

Julian Sargeant "Sarge" Reynolds was born in New York City, the second son of Richard Samuel Reynolds, Jr., and Virginia McDonald Sargeant Reynolds. He graduated from St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1947, and from Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia, in 1954. In 1958 he graduated 9th in his class of 356 from the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania.

In 1958 he started his business career in the Market Research Department of the Reynolds Metals Company. In 1961 he became Assistant Treasurer and in 1965 he became Executive Vice-President of the Reynolds Aluminum Credit Corporation. He married the former Elizabeth (Betsy) Weir Veeneman of Louisville, Kentucky. They had four children: Virginia (Ginny) Weir, J. Sargeant, Jr., Jeanne Elizabeth (Liz) and David Parham Reynolds II (who died less than 2 months after birth). After a divorce, he married Mary Ballou Handy Stettinius from Lynchburg, Virginia. They had one son, Richard Roland Reynolds.

Heritage

The aluminum and tobacco Reynolds families were related through Hardin William and Nancy Jane Cox Reynolds of Critz, Virginia, in the eastern section of Patrick County. Abram David (A.D.) Reynolds, their oldest son, was the father of Richard Samuel (R.S.) Reynolds, Sr. (founder of the Reynolds Metals Co.), and Richard Joshua (R.J.), (founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., along with his brother William Neal and bookkeeper, Henry Road). A.D. Reynolds also was a successful tobacco farmer in Bristol, Tennessee.

Descendents of Hardin William Reynolds have influenced the economic and cultural growth of the U.S., particularly in the South, through their business successes and philanthropy. Hardin, 3 of his sons, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren are listed in A Classification of American Wealth, History and Genealogy of the Wealthy Families of America (Encyclopedia of American Wealth).

Sources

The book, "Sarge Reynolds - In the Time of His Life" by Andy McCutcheon and Michael P. Gleason, published in 1996. Both men worked for and knew Sargeant Reynolds personally.

"Sarge Reynolds, a documentary" paid for by the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation (his grandfather) in cooperation with the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, 2006.

External links

* [http://www.jsr.vccs.edu/ J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College]
* [http://vccslitonline.cc.va.us/knowjsr/jsrthman.htm J. Sargeant Reynolds: Words and Accomplishments]