Head Start Leader, Ex-Surgeon General Dies

Word just arrived that Julius B. Richmond, 91, the first director of Head Start and former U.S. Surgeon General who fought a career-long battle against cigarette smoking, died Sunday at his home in Brookline, Mass. He had cancer.

He was someone who had a big impact on public health in the U.S., especially in latter part of 20th century. We've started a full obit of him which I'll have late today. One interesting tidbit until then: at the announcement of his appointment as Surgeon General, here's what the Post reported:

But Richmond said last week that (HEW Secretary Joe) Califano has given him the main responsibility for achieving one of President Carter's dearest goals - comprehensive national health insurance covering every American from cradle to grave.