Lunsford Richardson
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Lunsford Richardson , 1854-1919, was a U.S. pharmacist from Selma, North Carolina, and the founder of Vick Chemical Company ( which became Richardson Vicks Inc ). He died August 20, 1919.
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[edit] Early life
Lunsford was born in 1854 on a farm near Lunsford, NC. He attended Davidson College, where he graduated with highest honours in Latin in 1875. He taught at The Little River Academy before he became a pharmacist. He married Mary Lynn Smith, from Greensboro, in about 1884. Their son, H. Smith Richardson, 1885-1972, was born on July 19. His second son was Lunsford Richardson 1891-1953. He also had 3 daughters.
Lunsford bought a drugstore in Selma, and then, on selling the store in Selma bought one in Greensboro. This was the Porter and Tate Drugstore - Dr Porter was the uncle of William Sydney Porter, the author known as O. Henry.
[edit] Development of VapoRub
While working in Greensboro he developed a number of home remedies under the name of Vicks. This name was suggested to him from an advertisement for Vick's Seeds, and Vicks was also the name of his brother-in-law. It was short and easy to remember. Eventually there were 21 Vicks Family Remedies. One product included adding menthol, a new and little known drug from Japan, to a balm. Since the product was used just externally, there was no risk of stomach upset. It was originally called Vicks Salve, before it became VapoRub.
[edit] Founding Vicks
In 1898, he sold his drugstore and formed Lunsford Richardson Wholesale Drug company, one of only 4 wholesale drug companies in North Carolina. He sold the 21 Vicks products plus other drugs. Then in 1905 he sold the wholesale drug company and founded Vicks Family Remedies Company which became Richardson-Merrell Inc, and then Richardson Vicks Inc.
Initially, Vicks struggled to sell outside the Greensboro area until Lunsford's son, H. Smith, decided to concentrate just on the renamed VapoRub, the one unique and distinctive product of the 21 .
[edit] Civic Activities
Lunsford was active in Church activities (as elder to First Presbyterian). An editorial in the Greensboro Daily News August 22, 1919 said, "he never passed anyone on the street, young or old, black or white, whithout a nod and a smile." He was particularly interested in the welfare of African-Americans. During World War II, a Liberty ship was christened the S.S. Lunsford Richardson at "special request of the leading Negro citizens of North Carolina to honor the memory of a white friend."
[edit] References
"The Early History and Management Philosophy of Richardson-Merrell" Richardson, H. Smith, 1975, 75-26205
