Patrick Reynolds' biography

Patrick Reynolds' advocacy work and motivational talks to youth and adults have made him a well known and respected champion of a smokefree society. He has helped remind people of the dangers of smoking. 

Patrick watched his father, RJ Reynolds, Jr., his oldest brother RJ Reynolds III, and other members of his family die from cigarette-induced emphysema and lung cancer. Concerned about the mounting health evidence, he made the decision to speak out against the industry his family helped build.

A grandson of cigarette company founder RJ Reynolds, Patrick first spoke out publicly at a Congressional hearing in favor of a ban on all tobacco advertising (1986). Former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop said in 2003, "Patrick Reynolds is one of the nation's most influential advocates of a smokefree America. His testimony is invaluable to our society."

In March, 2009, Mr. Reynolds met in Washington DC with Congressman Henry Waxman to offer his support for the pending bill for FDA regulation of tobacco. Obama later signed the bill into law.

In April, 2009, Mr. Reynolds was invited by Greece’s Health Minister Avramopoulos to Athens, where he helped call national public attention to the problem of tobacco use. Because of his success in Greece, Mr. Reynolds' Foundation is now contacting Health Ministers in nations where smoking rates are high. He hopes to visit Russia, China, and India to do the same in those and other nations. The Greek Health Ministry has provided him with a letter of recommendation to Ministers of Health.

In the US, Patrick Reynolds is a frequent speaker to youth at schools, presenting his unique motivational talk, The Truth About Tobacco with passion and authenticity. He is also a popular guest lecturer on university campuses, giving his talk Tobacco Wars. Over 

In October, 2010 Mr. Reynolds released an educational video for grades 6 - 12, The Truth About Tobacco, 2011 Edition. The video won excellent reviews, and shows a talk Patrick gave to 1,000 ninth graders. It sends an empowering message to teens about cigarette advertising, smoking in films, and the addictiveness of nicotine. The DVD closes with Mr. Reynolds' unique initiation for teens and his inspirational message of hope for the future, especially needed now. The video has won much acclaim from educators. 

Over the years, Mr. Reynolds has spoken before dozens of municipal and State legislatures in support of proposed smoking ordinances which became law. He testified  in Congress in favor of a ban of all tobacco advertising, and a second time to help bring about the present ban of smoking on all US domestic flights. He has campaigned for numerous State cigarette tax increases, FDA regulation of tobacco, Statewide 100% smoking bans, and laws to limit youth access to tobacco products. He has approached several members of Congress about the aggressive advertising of US brands in the Third World and Asia.

Mr. Reynolds has also called for governors and State legislators to increase or maintain tobacco prevention spending. He points out, "Studies have proven that States with well funded tobacco prevention programs have significantly lower rates of teen smoking, while States with poorly funded programs have far higher levels of youth smoking. In short, these programs work and should be funded." (To check your state's current spending on smoking prevention programs, please see www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements. For your State's most recent overall tobacco report card, see StateofTobaccoControl.org.)

In 1989, Mr. Reynolds founded the Foundation for a Smokefree America, a nonprofit group whose mission is to motivate youth to stay tobacco free, and to empower smokers to quit successfully.

Little, Brown published The Gilded Leaf in 1989, a colorful family biography of the Reynolds family which Patrick coauthored with critically acclaimed biographer Tom Shachtman. The book spans three generations of the RJ Reynolds family and fortune.

In 1988, the UN's World Health Organization honored him with a special award. In 1989, Chicago's Mt. Sinai Hospital awarded him its Humanitarian of the Year award.

He is married and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

Resources

For journalists who want a side-box of tobacco facts, we suggest using your State's most recent tobacco report card from the American Lung Association, at StateofTobaccoControl.org. Another group provides your State's current spending on smoking prevention programs and the “Toll of tobacco” in your State at www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements

High-resolution photos and video are downloadable from www.tobaccofree.org/photos

Videos of recent live talks by Mr. Reynolds are online at www.tobaccofree.org/clips/

Recent cable TV debates at www.tobaccofree.org/tv/

Patrick Reynolds’ educational video for youth www.tobaccofree.org/videotruth.htm

Comments by past speaking clients  http://www.tobaccofree.org/clients/