Jessie Jones Reid, Sr.
First African American to serve on the Calvert County Board of Commissioners
1/24/1933 – 2/24/2018
Jesse Jones Reid, Sr. ‘s parents were Allnutt M. Reid and Essie Jones Reid from Plum Point Maryland. Jesse attended the segregated public schools of Calvert County graduating from W S Brooks High School in 1950. He continued his education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. Jessie served in the United States Army from 1955-57 and is Korean War veteran. After returning from Korea, he continued to study at Morgan State University. He married Ruth Nutter Reid in August 1958.
Jessie Reid taught science at Brooks High School from 1957 -1960. In 1961 he changed occupations becoming a school bus contractor for the Calvert County Public Schools. Jessie served on the Calvert County Board of Commissioners from 1981 -1982. He was the first African American Commissioner to serve on the county board of commissioners.
Jessie Reid was always very civic minded and worked to better his community. Jesse’s professional and civic affiliations, honors, awards and community service include the following: President of the Calvert County School Bus Contractors Association, Member of the State By-Laws Committee of the Maryland School Bus Contractors Association, President of the Maryland School Bus Contractors Association, inducted into the International School Bus Contractors Association’s Hall of Fame and recognized as the Republican Club’s Man of the Year. Jesse was a member of the Huntingtown Fire and Rescue Department since 1974 and served as a: firefighter, president, treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors. He was inducted into the Southern Maryland Volunteer Fire Department Hall of Fame, and the Calvert County Volunteer Fire Department Hall of Fame. He was a member of the American Legion, Gray-Ray Post #220 and served as First Vice Commander. Jesse’s participation in other civic organizations include chairman of the Calvert County Housing Authority, chairman of the Industrial Park Authority, and Vice Chairman of Calvert County Economic Commission.
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