Joseph T."Rock"Reed

Joseph T. "Rock" Reed, 94, died on Friday, July 13, 2007, at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet after a brief illness. He was born on Aug. 17, 1912, in Bald Knob, Ark., and was the son of the late Jasper Tilton Reed and Almeda Ferguson Reed. He married Marie E. Marks on Dec. 11, 1941, and they were married for 65 years. He graduated from Haynesville High School and was named to the all-state football team in 1933. He graduated from LSU, where he received a football scholarship and played in the first two Sugar Bowls in 1935 and 1936. He played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1937 and 1939, was a Louisiana state trooper prior to World War II and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the war. In the early 1950s, he was an assistant backfield coach at LSU under his teammate, lifelong friend and head coach, the late Gaynell "Gus" Tinsley. He retired in 1984 from the Louisiana Department of Education, Vocational Rehabilitation. Rock was a member of Sacred Heart Church. He is survived by his wife, Marie, Baton Rouge; son and wife, Richard T. and Kathy Reed, Baton Rouge; granddaughter, Stephanie Reed, Baton Rouge; daughter, Janet and husband John Glenn of Fredericksburg, Va.; and nephew, James Reed Callender Sr. and wife Klaudya of Arcadia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Lucille McGlothlan and Mabel Callender; and brother, Ralph Edward Reed. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Monday, July 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a private family funeral on Tuesday with burial in Port Hudson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.