Tom Reid
Blacksburg Rotary Club

Tom Reid was president of our Rotary club during 2005-2006.

Tom Reid was raised on Long Island, New York.  He graduated from Garden City High School and C.W. Post College, with a B.S. in Business.  After graduation, he was hired by Shell Oil Company in NYC.  In 1961, President Kennedy called up his Army Reserve Unit during the Berlin crisis.  His artillery battalion was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. until August 1962.  Shortly after he returned home, he met Carol Varney who he married the following November.  He and Carol have a daughter, two sons and five grandchildren.

Tom was working for Gulf & Western in Allentown, PA when given the opportunity to become the division controller of their coal division in Oakwood, VA.  In December of 1977 they moved to Abingdon, VA.  By June, 1983, the demand for the metallurgical coal dried up and he was out of a job.  He then got into the insurance business which led him to Blacksburg in November 1991. 

Tom is now retired and enjoys visiting his grandchildren, playing golf with friends, supporting Hokie athletics and taking trips to Hilton Head and the Outer Banks.

Tom was introduced to Rotary by Gary Schroeder.  He said about Rotary, “The biggest challenge I had in my presidency was finding a new location when the Red Lion Inn was closing.  Fortunately, the Blacksburg Country Club was completing their new banquet facility and gave us a very good price for our meals.  Unfortunately, some members felt the BCC was too far to travel at lunch and we started losing members. This continued for another year or two.  Fortunately, our membership committee got to work and we have taken in many new members. 

“Rotary has been a wonderful experience.  It is satisfying to see all the good work that Rotary does both locally and internationally.  The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”.  I truly believe that is what being a Rotarian is about.”

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