J. Sargeant Reynolds
From Wikipedia, the free 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. He is best remembered for advocating Virginia's Community College System.
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[edit] Youth, education, teacher
Julian Sargeant Reynolds was born into the family which founded Reynolds Metals Company. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School before attending college. He graduated from Wharton School of Finance in 1958 and began his career with the family business. In 1961, he was named Assistant Treasurer. In 1965, he was named Executive Vice-President of the Reynolds Aluminum Credit Corp.
He also served a year as State Coordinator of Young Citizens for LBJ, and as a teacher of Economics at the University of Richmond.
[edit] Politician, leader, untimely death
"Sarge" Reynolds began his political career as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1965. In 1967, he was elected to the Virginia State Senate. In the Gubernatorial election in 1969, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, the state's # 2 position. To fill his vacated Senate seat in Virginia's upper house, he recommended a young Richmond lawyer and politician named L. Douglas Wilder, who was later to become the nation's first elected African-American Governor.
Shortly after taking office, Reynolds was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. 9 months later, he died in office at the age of only 34. His state funeral was the first in Virginia since one held for Jefferson Davis in 1893.
After his death, many noted the progress the state had made since the burial of the President of the Confederacy and advocate of slavery to the burial of a man who fought to bring racial equality to politics. It is thought that had Reynolds lived, he may have found his way to the presidency of the United States.
[edit] Heritage
During his political career, Reynolds strove to better the Commonwealth of Virginia in a progressive and visionary manner. As a younger Democrat who held great promise, he was often compared with former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Reynolds had worked especially hard to promote racial equality and public education throughout the state. He helped to pioneer the system of community colleges, which is present today. When the final community college in the state's system of 23 institutions was opened in 1972, it was named J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in his honor.
Today, the Reynolds family is still involved in the success of the college. Past chairmen of its Education Foundation have included his son, J. Sargeant Reynolds, Jr. A memorial room to J. Sargeant Reynolds (Sr.) is located in the library of the downtown campus.
A book, Sarge Reynolds In the Time of His Life, was published in 1996.
- "Sarge Reynolds, always ready to break with tradition, had a vision for the Commonwealth that included all its citizens--young and old, black and white, rich and poor. With his death, Virginians lost a charismatic leader and a unifying force."
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- former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder
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| Preceded by Fred G. Pollard |
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia 1970 – 1971 |
Succeeded by Henry Howell |
