Mainers remember Fort Fairfield’s favorite son

Mainers remember

Fort Fairfield’s favorite son

Contributed photo

    GOV. JOHN H. REED, a native of Fort Fairfield, died Oct. 31 at a Washington, D.C. hospital. He was 91. In addition to serving as Maine’s governor for seven years, Reed served as U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Interment with Masonic burial rites will be conducted next spring at Riverside Cemetery in Fort Fairfield.

    FORT FAIRFIELD — Fort Fairfield native and former Maine Gov. John H. Reed is being remembered for his dedication and eagerness to serve not only the people of Maine, but also the world. Reed died Oct. 31 at a Washington, D.C. hospital following a brief illness. He was 91.
    The son of a prominent potato grower, Reed graduated from the University of Maine in 1941. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy and served until 1946. After being discharged, Reed joined his father’s potato business and dabbled in harness racing.    In 1953 he held a seat on the Maine Water Improvement Commission but resigned a year later to run for the Maine House of Representatives. Serving a single term in the House, Reed ran for the Maine Senate in 1957, and upon reelection in 1959 was chosen Senate President.
    On Sept. 20, 1959, Reed became Maine’s governor following the death of Clinton Clauson. In 1960, he defeated Democrat Frank Coffin to serve out the remainder of Clauson’s term. He won Maine’s first four-year term as governor with a narrow victory over Democrat Maynard Dolloff in 1962.
    Reed was later appointed by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson to the National Transportation Safety Board, and under President Gerald Ford, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
    Though Reed’s duties took him far from Fort Fairfield, Town Manager Dan Foster said the community was always “near and dear to him.”
    “His many visits and his support of our community causes clearly demonstrated his love for Fort Fairfield,” said Foster. “The Community Center is dedicated to John for his life-long service to his community, state and nation.
    “At a very early age, he looked to reach out to the greater world. John was a true leader, but his heart was always here in Fort Fairfield,” he said. “We’re very proud of the work that he did representing our community, the state and the country. John truly was Fort Fairfield’s favorite son.”
    Reed’s niece, Rayle Ainsworth, said her uncle’s sense of dedication was a “family trait.”
    “It was something that was instilled in the family,” she said. “He was definitely dedicated to his community whether it was the church or the town, and later the state, country and even internationally. Whether it was a larger community or a smaller one, however, he never lost touch with Maine.
    “Every summer he came and spent several weeks — a month sometimes — at the old family camp on North Pond in Smithfield,” Ainsworth said. “Politically, he always knew the people and had a great memory for people and what they were doing to serve the community.”
    Attending state fairs was one of Reed’s pastimes.
    “He would never miss a fair. State fairs were his favorite thing. He even went last year to the fair in Skowhegan. It was a family tradition,” said Ainsworth. “Uncle John was a horseman from childhood on and loved the horses. He actually jogged horses and raced horses at Presque Isle. He wasn’t necessarily a good driver, but he enjoyed it. When he got transferred to Augusta, Lewiston was the nearest racetrack and he was always there checking on the horses, and when he went down to Washington, D.C., he would go to the Rosecroft Raceway. It was a passion of his.”
    Ainsworth said her uncle’s love of Maine also included a particular meal.
    “His favorite meal was baked beans and bread. He could get certain foods when he was in Sri Lanka, but beans were not one of them, so he had B&M baked beans shipped to Sri Lanka so he could have his Saturday night beans. He had to have them,” she laughed.
    Gov. Paul LePage said Maine has “lost a great man.”
    “Gov. Reed led our state well and served the people of Maine honorably,” said LePage. “Having the opportunity to have met him, I know he was a kind man, dedicated Navy veteran, and passionate about public service. It is a sad day for Maine as we have lost a man who contributed so much to our great state.”
    U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) agreed.
    “Gov. Reed was a dear friend, and as a fellow native of Aroostook County, I know how proud he was of the people and the place he always considered home,” she said. “Each year, I attend a breakfast that the Maine State Society hosts in Washington, D.C. for Mainers living in the nation’s capital. Gov. Reed attended nearly every year. He truly enjoyed sharing stories about our state and talking to people who shared his love of Maine.
    “In an interview a few years ago, Gov. Reed was asked by a reporter what he’d like to be remembered for. He said that he wanted to be remembered for doing what was right and that he always sought what was best for the people of Maine,” said Collins. “For this, the people of Maine will forever be grateful.”
    Reed was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Cora Davison Reed. He is survived by his two daughters, Cheryl D. Reed of Alexandria, Va. and Ruth Reed Duford of Groveland, Mass., three grandchildren, and other relatives.
    Funeral services will be held today in Washington, D.C. Interment with Masonic burial rites will be conducted next spring at Riverside Cemetery in Fort Fairfield.
    Gov. LePage has ordered that flags be flown today at half-staff in Reed’s honor.