Charles Reid, Jr.

Charles H. Reid, Jr. passed away from congestive heart failure on January 2, 2014 having recently celebrated his 90th birthday. He was a kind, loving and nurturing husband and father, as well as a caring and giving community member. Charles was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 18, 1923 to Charles Henry Reid and Eleanor (Morris) Reid. He graduated from Atlantic City High School. Charles served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942-1946. He was schooled in Math and Education at Montclair State Teachers College in Montclair, New Jersey, graduating in 1948. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education Administration at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1949. He taught math at Sargent Consolidated Schools near Center, Colorado for one year before moving to the Durango area. Charles married Jean Siegfried in Englewood, New Jersey in 1950, and they relocated to Fort Lewis A&M College near Hesperus, Colorado where Charles became “the Math Department”. In the early 1950’s Charles became the Director of Admissions and Records for the college and was instrumental in convincing the faculty to offer Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. By the time the college moved into Durango in 1956 he was involved in plans for Fort Lewis to become a Junior College. A major commitment of his time was spent on the curriculum development committee which was charged with finalizing core curriculum and majors, and the adoption of a trimester schedule. Charles continued to serve with the curriculum committee, as well as the building expansion committee, as Fort Lewis prepared for and became a four year college in 1962. It was said that his enrollment forecasts were amazingly accurate and contributed significantly to the campaign to create a four year college. His long and distinguished career at Fort Lewis College included recruiting students; admitting and advising students throughout their tenure to help them graduate; and serving as the liaison to American Indian, foreign, and veteran students. His service to the college and its students garnered him a number of awards: Appreciation Awards from the Colorado State Board of Agriculture (originally the governing board of the college), The Colorado Council on High School – College Relations, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Fort Lewis College. Charles retired as the Registrar from Fort Lewis College in 1989, but was not done with higher education. Directly after his retirement Charles was recruited to serve as the Interim Director of the Office of Admissions and Records at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. Charles was a strong believer in community service. He was on the School District 9-R Board for a number of terms, the City/County Planning and Zoning Board, the United States Selective Service System Board, the Southwest Federal Credit Union Board, and the La Plata Electric Association Board. He also gave generously of his time and talents to Christ the King Lutheran Church. When he had time for hobbies Charles enjoyed photography and provided year book pictures for the educational institutions he attended; photographs of areas, events, and people at the historic Fort Lewis Campus near Hesperus; and of course documented the growth of his beloved family. Charles Reid was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Eleanor Reid, sister Elizabeth Staples, and brother John Reid. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Jean Reid (Durango, CO), son and daughter in law Charles and Judy Reid (Romeo, CO), son and daughter in law Kevin Reid and Donna Herum (Newburgh, IN), daughters Megan Reid (Durango, CO) and Robin Reid (Salt Lake City, UT), niece and nephew in law Sandra and David Geisinger (Schenectady, NY), 3 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Durango in the spring. Memorial donations may be sent to the Fort Lewis College Foundation with a notation “to the Charles H. Reid, Jr. Educational Scholarship Fund” (1000 Rim Drive, Durango, CO, 81301) or to Christ the King Lutheran Church (495 Florida Rd, Durango, CO, 81301).