H Smith Richardson Jr

H. Smith Richardson, Jr., 79, former chairman of Richardson-Vicks Inc., died Tuesday, July 27, 1999, following a brief illness. Mr. Richardson was born in Greensboro, in 1920, the third of five children. After the family business moved its headquarters to New York in 1933, he graduated from the Buckley School and St. Paul's School. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Yale University in 1942 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Under his leadership, RVI grew into a major Fortune 250 company. He retired as chairman in May 1985. Several months later, the company was sold to Procter and Gamble. He was the chairman of the Smith Richardson Foundation, Westport, Conn., from 1972 until his death. The foundation, created by his father, provides support for charitable works, as well as for research and analysis of public policy issues. Mr. Richardson is survived by his wife, Adele of the home; three daughters, Adele Richardson Ray of Pittsboro, Page Richardson of Chapel Hill and Cary Paynter of Wilmington; three sons, Stuart Richardson of Easton, Conn., Peter Richardson of Southport, Conn., and H. Smith Richardson, III of Santa Barbara, Calif. Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. Grace R. Stetson of Bridgeport, Conn., and brother, R. Randolph Richardson of Amaganseft, NY.