Clarke Reed
Clarke Reed | |
|---|---|
Reed in 1948 | |
| Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party | |
| In office 1966–1976 | |
| Preceded by | Wirt Yerger |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Pickering |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarke Thomas Reed Sr. August 4, 1928 Alliance, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 2024 (aged 96) Greenville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Julia Brooks (m. 1957) |
| Children | 3; including Julia Evans |
| Education | University of Missouri |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician |
Clarke Thomas Reed Sr. (August 4, 1928 – December 8, 2024) was an American businessman and politician. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976. Prior to his political career, Reed was an agricultural businessman and a graduate in economics.
Reed was widely credited for strengthening the Republican Party's influence and eventual dominance in the Southern United States. He was also noted for his support of President Gerald Ford during the 1976 Republican National Convention, which played a role in the defeat of then-Governor Ronald Reagan's candidacy for the Republican nomination.