R.S. and Louise

Richard S. Reynolds and Julia Louise Parham met in Bristol, Virginia, in the early 1900s. While she was singing in a choir, he was making plans to ask for her hand. They married in December of 1904.

R.S.— as he was known—and Louise were creative, faithful and resilient visionaries. Louise’s love for music and art led her to a lifetime of painting, singing and writing. R.S.’s early start in the world of business and his entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to travel often and lead many successful endeavors in the tobacco and metals industries. His innovation with aluminum revolutionized the world of metal and significantly impacted the United States’ efforts in WWII. They had four sons who later led the family business.

Julia Louise Reynolds established the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation shortly after her husband’s death in 1955. The foundation was created to honor his accomplishments and continue the vision that R.S. and Louise shared for future generations.