October 25: Happy Birthday! Alice Shelton Gray
Alice Shelton Gray was born on this day in 1886, in Winston-Salem, to Robah Fidus and Lelia Wilson Gray. Alice (Polly) was educated in Salisbury and was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church....
Tagged: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
October 20: Happy Birthday! Annie Becker Hege
Annie Becker Hege was born on this day in 1906, in South Carolina, to August Ferdinand and Catherine Handrich Becker. She moved to Winston-Salem in 1922 and attended business school. She worked in the...
October 17,1958: Groundbreaking for Whitaker Park
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...
October 3: Happy Birthday! Joseph Paul Sticht
Joseph Paul Sticht was born on this day in 1917, in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Grove City College, and married Ferne Cozad. He was president of Campbell Soup Company and president of Federated Department...
September 19,1986: RJR Tobaccoville Plant Opens
The world’s largest and most automated cigarette manufacturing plant was dedicated on this day in 1986, in Tobaccoville. Built by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the plant had 2 million square feet of floor...
September 7: Happy Birthday! Irvin Washington Grogan Sr.
Irvin Washington Grogan Sr. was born on this day in 1886, in Virginia, to Lafayette Smith and Sallie Griggs Grogan. He came to Winston-Salem in 1913, and worked for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company...
August 11,1918: Plaza Hotel to be Reynolds Inn
On this day in 1918, the Winston-Salem Journal announced that R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company has purchased the Plaza Hotel. Located on the corner of Chestnut and Third Streets, the hotel will be refurnished...
August 7: Happy Birthday! John Clarke Whitaker
John Clarke Whitaker was born on this day in 1891, in Winston-Salem, to William and Anna Bitting Whitaker. He attended the University of North Carolina and Guilford College. In 1913, he joined R. J....
July 10,1911: RJR Opens New Office
On this day in 1911, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco office force moved into their new building on the corner of Main and Fifth Streets. The office force moved from RJR Factory #8, where...
July 8: Happy Birthday! Charles Byrd Wade Jr.
Charles Byrd Wade Jr. was born on this day in 1915, in Morehead City, to Charles Byrd and Bessie Ormond Wade. He graduated from Duke University, majoring in history. He joined R. J. Reynolds...