* Robert L. May was a copywriter for Montgomery Ward, a mail-order company. In 1939, he wrote a story about Rudolph as a promotional giveaway for the company.
* The story was originally titled "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and it was given away for free to customers of Montgomery Ward.
* The story became so popular that it was later published as a book in 1947 and has since been adapted into several movies, TV specials, and even a Broadway show.
So, while Montgomery Ward didn't invent Rudolph, they played a crucial role in his early success by distributing the story as a promotional item.