ORONO — Former big-tobacco executive Patrick Reynolds will share his life experiences fighting the tobacco industry during several talks in the Greater Bangor area.

Officials said that Reynolds, who is the grandson of tobacco company founder R.J. Reynolds, will present “his eye-opening anti-smoking message” at:

. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 100 Donald P. Corbett Business Building, University of Maine, Orono.

. 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Bangor at Eastern Maine Technical College’s Rangeley Hall, Room 501a. Rangeley Hall is located on Sylvan Road.

The public is cordially invited to attend both of these events.

Reynolds also will speak to all SAD 22 middle school students at Hampden Academy at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18.

A former smoker himself, Patrick Reynolds was the first industry figure to turn his back on big tobacco when he left his family’s business in 1986.

It was the family brands, Camel and Winston, which killed his father and eldest brother, he explained. Now a devoted anti-tobacco advocate, Reynolds fights to keep young people tobacco-free.

In his lectures around the country, Reynolds exposes the reality of tobacco advertising: how for decades, multibillion dollar cigarette ad campaigns targeted women, teens and minority populations, officials said.

The largest increases in tobacco use have been observed in these groups.

Reynolds discusses the First Amendment debate over tobacco advertising and explains his support for campaign finance reform to help curb the power of the tobacco industry over the government.

Finally, Reynolds talks about the need to confront problems rather than turning to tobacco, drugs or other substances for comfort – a process he describes as an “initiation” into life.

Co-sponsors for the events are Bangor Region Partners for Health, a program of Partnerships for Healthy Communities; the University of Maine’s Substance Abuse Prevention Services; University of Maine Counseling Center; Eastern Maine Technical College and several private donors. Funding for Bangor Region Partners for Health is provided by Healthy Maine Partnerships, Bureau of Health, Department of Human Services.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.tobaccofree.org.