R.J. Reynolds founded the premier company in cigarette production called Reynolds Tobacco. Their main product was Camel cigarettes which was a nationally popular brand in America. Despite his success, R.J. Reynolds came from humble beginnings, selling his father’s tobacco through Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee on a small wagon.

Fact 1: When Reynolds arrived in Winston town, there were over 15 tobacco firms operating and he would later own most of them or completely dominate his competition.

Fact 2: The first employees to work for Reynolds were 12 casual black workers.

Fact 3: Reynolds imported tobacco and cigarette paper in large amounts such that the town of Winston, 320 km inland had to be declared as a port.

Fact 4: During the glory days, the tobacco company paid the taxes through delivering a truck loaded with money to the court house steps every day.

Fact 5: Reynolds company interestingly obtained consent to utilize 250 German war prisoners to manufacture cigarettes in World War 2 when manpower was short.

Fact 6: R J Reynolds established nearly all packaging standards in the American cigarette industry including the common 20 pack of cigarettes.

Fact 7: In 1917, Reynolds was the wealthiest man in America paying over $70,000 in taxes which is more than two times the amount of a common man.

Fact 8: At the time of R.J. Reynolds passing away in the year 1918, his company owned 120 houses in Winston. The company was responsible for most of the development in the town.

Fact 9: After Reynolds died, company officials did not hang the portraits of other mangers and chief executives for about 41 years.

Fact 10: In 1921, Reynolds Tobacco produced more than 19 billion Camel cigarettes at a time when most of the cigarettes bought in America were Camels. A couple of years later, over 30 billion Camel cigarettes were produced.