Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas every year and it was decided that creating their own book would save money. May considered naming the reindeer "Rollo" and "Reginald" before deciding upon using the name "Rudolph".
In its first year of publication, 2.4 million copies of Rudolph's story were distributed by Montgomery Ward. "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is loved by millions and still selling copies.
