Jackson Jambalaya

 The Mississippi Republican Party issued the following statement. 

The Mississippi Republican Party is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former MSGOP icon Clarke Reed. Reed was a Greenville businessman who one of the founding fathers of the Mississippi Republican Party who led the party from the political wilderness to statewide electoral dominance. Reed also played a pivotal role in the rise of the Republican Party throughout the south and the nation.

“Few have done as much for the Mississippi Republican Party as Clarke Reed. He was always so generous with his time, his wisdom, and his connections in order to advance conservative principles and values that we hold dear. We extend our love and prayers to his family, and we will be forever grateful for his friendship and his work to advance our state,” said Mike Hurst, Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party.

Born and raised in a small town in Missouri, in a part of the state that was culturally, economically, and politically similar to the Mississippi Delta, his upbringing played a pivotal role in his life and helped him succeed in business and later his political work when he moved to Greenville, Mississippi.

Reed first got involved in politics at the local level in Greenville and then grew active within the state Republican Party. He was a delegate to his first Republican National Convention in 1964, and in 1966 he took over as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party’s executive committee. Benefitting from Reed’s social and business connections, administrative skills, and low-key powers of persuasion, the party’s membership grew. He focused on party building at the county level, persuaded national GOP figures to speak to Mississippi groups and fostered party identity and cohesion through regular newsletters and innovative use of direct mail.

Reed was involved in major victories for the MSGOP with the elections of Thad Cochran, Trent Lott, and Kirk Fordice, among many, many others. Clarke was also instrumental in the nominations of both Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Reed served as MSGOP Chairman from 1966 to 1976, and later served as the Republican Party National Committeeman from Mississippi from 1976 to 1984. Over the years, several of Reed’s protégés went on to assume leadership positions within the party and eventually running for office, including Haley Barbour, who served as chair of the Republican National Committee and was later governor of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012.

Reed was a proud husband to Julia “Judy” Reed and a doting father to his three children: Clarke T. Reed Jr., the late R. Crews Reed, and the late author Julia Reed. The Mississippi Republican Party extends its heartfelt condolences to Clarke’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and we will continue to honour his memory as we work together to build a brighter future for Mississippi.