The grandson of the founder of one of the world’s leading cigarette manufacturers is coming to the mid-valley this week to speak to students at several schools about the dangers of smoking.
Patrick Reynolds is the grandson of R.J. Reynolds. Today the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings is the nation’s second-largest tobacco company, producing about 25 percent of all the cigarettes sold in the United States.
Patrick Reynolds was himself a pack-a-day smoker, and his father, oldest brother and several other relatives died of cigarette-induced cancer and emphysema.
Reynolds gave up the habit in the 1980s, and became a leading anti-smoking advocate. He testified before Congress about the tobacco industry and in 1989 launched The Foundation for a Tobaccofree Earth.
Reynolds will speak to students at South Albany High School at 10 a.m. Wednesday and at 1:40 p.m. at West Albany.
On Thursday, he will address two sessions of Lebanon High School students at 8:10 and 9:05 a.m.
His visit will conclude Friday with a visit to Memorial Middle School at 8:30 a.m. and Calapooia Middle School at 1:30 p.m.