Reid was born in Chatham County, North Carolina on August 13, 1924, to an educator and a homemaker. When he was 14, his father died, and he took jobs to help his family stay afloat. He became a champion debater in high school, attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and joined ROTC after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was commissioned by the Navy at age 19, and, owing to his natural leadership, became commanding officer of an LCI ship at age 21. In October 1945 he guided his ship safely through Typhoon Louise, a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that devastated the Ryukyu Islands, especially Okinawa. He remained glued to his post in the conning tower for ten straight hours, exposed to a blinding storm, barking orders down to the engine room. His was one of the few ships that survived.
After the war Reid finished college on the GI Bill, graduated from Harvard Law School, and returned to North Carolina to practice law. In 1952, he married Mary Louise Milliken of Siler City, and the couple settled in Pittsboro. From 1958-60 he served as a Circuit Court judge and a representative to the North Carolina State Legislature. In 1960 he became general counsel at Carolina Power & Light Company in Raleigh, and later served as executive vice president. Also in Raleigh, he taught a popular men’s Sunday school class at Edenton Street Methodist Church. In 1971, he and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he assumed the role of president and CEO of Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO), a position he held until 1989. During his tenure, by careful management of expenses and selling of capital assets, he turned a failing utility into a Fortune 500 company and PEPCO became a model for struggling utilities around the country. He was featured on the cover of Washingtonian Magazine as Washingtonian’s Man of the Year and was a silver award winner of Financial World magazine’s “chief executive officer of the year.” He remained Chairman of PEPCO’s board until 1992 and served as an advisory director for several years afterward.
Reid’s jolly temperament, affable nature, and tremendous energy made him a sought-after community and business leader. He served on the board of the National Symphony Orchestra, the governing board of St. Albans School, was president of the Chevy Chase Club and the Metropolitan Club, chairman of the Federal City Council and the Edison Electric Institute and president of the Southeastern Electric Exchange. He was a member of the Business Council, the Business Roundtable, the Economic Club, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Alfalfa Club, and the Alibi Club. He cared deeply about local philanthropy, giving generously to many charitable organizations in Washington. At the time of his death he had been a member of All Saints Church for more than 20 years.
Family and friends remember Reid as a veritable force of nature whose love for life was infectious. He was a connoisseur of fine cigars and single-malt Scotch, and a raconteur with a funny story ready at hand. He had a keen wit and intelligence, was generous of heart and pocket, and enjoyed food, travel, and his Labrador retrievers. Most of all, he loved sharing these passions with his family, to whom he was devoted. He was the life of many a party, and he will be deeply missed. He wanted to die climbing a mountain or in his sleep. He got his wish.
Reid was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Sue Parks. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Louise, and his four children, Mary Rice, W. Reid Thompson III (Liza), John Thompson (Margo), and Susan Billington (Tom), along with seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.The family wishes to express gratitude to Reid’s dedicated team of home caregivers.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Private interment at Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland and the Breadcoin Foundation P.O. Box 76405 Washington, DC 20013.
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