Donald Jennings Reid - 1908-1986

REID, TARWATER, GRAVES, SCARBOROUGH

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 8/18/2011 at 21:09:39

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON NEWSPAPER, later part of October 1986
Additional information obtained from the Internet and personal conversation with Jo Lee Scarborough, August 9, 2011
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

NEWSPAPERMAN DON REID DIES

by Harrison Weber, Iowa Newspaper Assn.
(Editor's note: Don Reid was a partner in the ownership of Waukon Newspapers, Inc. for several years)
DES MOINES(INA) - In his prime, Don Reid was one of Iowa's funniest people. He was known far and wide for his witty comments, both in his regular newspaper column and on the banquet circuit. Reid served 43 years as the managing director of the Iowa Press Association before retiring in 1980. He died recently of cancer.

From 1931 to 1968 he was publisher of the West Des Moines Express and during the 1950's he was very much in demand as a speaker. He gave more than 1,500 speeches throughout the country. When John F. Kennedy was seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1960, Reid served as the master of ceremonies at a rally held in Des Moines in Kennedy's honor. Kennedy referred to Reid as "the Herb Shriner of Iowa." At the time Shriner was regarded by many as the best humorist in the nation.

A year ago Reid was "roasted" by some of his colleagues who entertained the audience with intimate stories about his life, ranging from standing on his head atop the Osceola, Iowa water tower when he was a kid, to various incidents that occurred on hunting trips. Reid's interest in newspapers started when he was only 6 years old and he helped set type on his father's newspaper at Gilman City, Missouri.

The audience also learned that in the mid-1930's Reid joined the U.S. Army Calvary where one of his Sunday riding partners was Ronald Reagan, a sportscaster for radio station WHO. Years later Reid told friends that if anyone in that group was destined for great things in politics, it was Reagan "because he had the personal traits that would be valuable."

Reid was former president of the Newspaper Association Managers and in 1953 the Iowa Press Association presented him with its master editor-publisher award. At the testimonial dinner a year ago, Mel Street, executive vice-president of the National Newspaper Association, presented Reid with a special certificate from the National Newspaper Association in remembrance of his 43 years of "distinguished service" to hometown newspapers.

M.E. Messersmith, the Riceville, Iowa publisher, surprised Reid by unveiling a huge plaque bearing Reid's likeness. The plaque was presented to Reid "In grateful recognition of his contributions to the Iowa newspaper profession." A duplicate plaque hangs in the office of the Iowa Newspaper Association.

NOTE of the transcriber: When the Waukon, Iowa newspaper printed the above article, they did not indicate WHEN DON REID was a partner in the ownership of the Waukon Newspapers nor did they give information regarding his death. On August 9, 2011, the transcriber was in contact with Don Reid's daughter, Jo Lee, who graciously provided the following information. However, she was not able to give the dates that Don J. Reid was a partner owner of the Waukon Newspaper. That remains unknown at this time, although she thought it might have been in the 1950's and 60's.

Donald Jennings Reid, son of Dudley Alver Reid and Josephine (Tarwater) Reid, was born August 17, 1908 in Maryville, Missouri. Don J. Reid learned the newspaper business from his father. From 1907-1910, Dudley Reid was the editor and publisher of the Nodaway Forum in Maryville, Missouri. From 1912-1921 he was the editor and publisher of the Gilman City, Missouri Guide. In 1921 the Reid family moved to Osceola, Iowa and in 1931 they moved again, this time settling in West Des Moines, Iowa where Dudley Reid was the editor and publisher of the Valley Junction Booster-Express, which later was renamed the West Des Moines Express. It was in 1931 that Don J. Reid joined his father, working along side his father as editor and publisher also. When his father died in 1957, Don Reid continued the family newspaper until 1968. On July 28, 1928 Don married Dorothy S. Graves.

Donald J. Reid died of cancer on October 14, 1986 in West Des Moines, Iowa and is buried in West Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Dorothy S. (Graves) Reid.

He was survived by his daughter, Jo Lee (Theodore) Scarborough of West Des Moines, Iowa, 2 grandchildren, a great-grandchild; and a brother, Dr. Loren A. Reid of Columbia, Missouri

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Updated information August 25, 2011

In 1962, the Hull family, consisting of Louis and his brother Les, along with Les's wife, Laverne, sold the Waukon twin weekly newspapers, the Republican-Standard and Waukon Democrat to Wally Johnson, John Feuling, Maurice E. "Maury" Noonan, and Don J. Reid. The partnership of owners continued through 1975 when Wally Johnson became the sole owner and publisher of the Waukon newspaper.