Tobacco Heir Fights Tobacco Use
By Sam Jackson '54
Patrick Reynolds, grandson of the founder of the R.J. Reynolds Co., makers of Winston and Marlboros, urged the over 500 member audience of high schoolers and teachers at Germantown Academy today to avoid tobacco use themselves and to fax their congresspeople to reject tobacco industry donations to their campaigns.

Speaking to a predominantly teenage audience, Reynolds described this age group as the target group for the industry. "Nine out of ten addicted smokers," he said, "began smoking as teenagers. That's why the industry focuses on young people in its advertising, why it makes it seem as if smoking is the cool thing to do."

To counter that effect, he showed pictures of Joe Camel as Joe Chemo, hospitalized with cancer and regretting his years of smoking, and of a teenage track star who by age 19 had lost his tongue, half of his jaw, and finally his life through chewing tobacco.

"That anecdote and the graphic dropping of metal balls into the metal pan were captivating parts of his speech, " noted GA Senior Andy Greenblatt. "People can throw numbers around, but they don't necessarily hit you unless something like lighting a candle for each number makes you visualize the deaths; you understand how significant they are."

Reynolds flashed phone numbers and web sites on the screen to aid the audience in following through on his second plea - that people work to eliminate the influence of tobacco money in American politics: "Those companies want something for their money," he emphasized, "and that something is favorable treatment for the tobacco industry - low cigarette taxes and minimal restrictions on cigarette advertising."

In response to audience questions, Reynolds noted the broader problem of many kinds of addiction in our society, but he focused on his passion, fighting the influence of tobacco. Tony Garvan, the Head of GA's Upper School, and the audience warmly thanked Mr. Reynolds for his presentation.

After the program, Seniors Bob McCouch and Andy Signore said it was good, "Even if he was a little too zealous," added McCouch. Greenblatt added that in his history class's ten minute discussion of the assembly, "No one thought it was a waste of time."