John C. Whitaker was chairman of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Board of Directors from 1952 to 1959. On this day in 1958, he broke ground for the new cigarette plant that would bear his name.
The Engineering Department designed and constructed the entire building, and the Purchasing Department bought the materials.
Located on 14 acres on Reynolds Boulevard, Whitaker Park was dedicated in October 1961. The first shipment of Winston cigarettes left the plant in April of that year.
The photo above shows Mrs. John C. Whitaker watching as Mr. Whitaker breaks the ground.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
