J. Sargeant Reynolds
Encyclopedia
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, the first Republican to serve in that position since Reconstruction
. 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.
, 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.
Descendants 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).
"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.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
was a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, businessman, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served in both the House and Senate of the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
and served as Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the first Republican to serve in that position since Reconstruction
Reconstruction
In the history of the United States, the term "Reconstruction Era" has two senses: the first covers the entire nation in the period 1865–1877 following the Civil War; the second one, used in this article, covers the transformation of the Southern United States from 1863 to 1877, with the...
. He died of an inoperable brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
at age 34, while in office as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor.
He is best remembered for advocating Virginia's Community College
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
System. J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a community college serving not only Richmond, Virginia, but Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Louisa County, Powhatan County as well. Named for Lieutenant Governor J. Sargeant Reynolds, JSRCC is a member of the Virginia 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 CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the second son of Richard Samuel Reynolds, Jr., and Virginia McDonald Sargeant Reynolds. He graduated from St. Christopher's School
St. Christopher's School
St. Christopher's School is the name of several schools around the world, including:*St. Christopher's School, Bahrain*St. Christopher's School, Richmond, Virginia, USA*St. Christopher's School, Metairie, Louisiana, USA...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, in 1947, and from Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
in Orange, Virginia
Orange, Virginia
Orange is a town in Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Orange County...
, in 1954. In 1958 he graduated 9th in his class of 356 from the Wharton School of Finance
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wharton was the world’s first collegiate business school and the first business school in the United States...
, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
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
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. 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
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. They had one son, Richard Roland Reynolds.
Heritage
The aluminum Reynolds family and the tobacco Reynolds family were related through Hardin William and Nancy Jane Cox Reynolds of Critz, Virginia, in the eastern section of Patrick County. Their oldest son, Abram David (A.D.), was the father of Richard Samuel (R.S.) Reynolds, Sr., who founder the Reynolds Metals Co., and the inventor of Reynolds Wrap. A.D. was a brother of Richard Joshua (R.J.) who, along with another brother William Neal and their bookkeeper, Henry Roan, founded the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. A.D. Reynolds was also a successful tobacco farmer in Bristol, Tennessee.Descendants 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.