John Reed honored for 75 years at the Davenport

John Reed is the historic Davenport Hotel’s longest-serving employee, and now, at 86, he said he doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon. The doorman was honored Wednesday in a ceremony celebrating his 75 years at the Davenport. In his honor, the hotel renamed its board room after him and gave him a new refrigerator stocked with all the fixings for gin and tonics, one of Reed’s favorite drinks.

Section:Gallery

Thu., June 1, 2017

Longtime Davenport Hotel door man John Reed, seated, shares a chuckle with Matt Jensen, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Davenport Hotels, at a ceremony to recognize that Reed has been at the Davenport Hotel for 75 years as of Thursday, June 1, 2017. Though he took time off for college, Reed was hired as a bus boy by Louis Davenport June 1, 1942 and is the hotels longest serving employee by far. To honor him, the hotel named a boardroom after Reed and will hang the photograph at left in the room.

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Longtime Davenport Hotel door man John Reed, left, is congratulated by Spokane Mayor David Condon at a ceremony to recognize that Reed has been at the Davenport Hotel for 75 years as of Thursday, June 1, 2017. Though he took time off for college, Reed was hired as a bus boy by Louis Davenport, June 1, 1942, and is the hotels longest serving employee by far. To honor him, the hotel named a boardroom after Reed.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Longtime Davenport Hotel door man John Reed listens to Lynelle Caudill, right, announce that he has been at the Davenport Hotel for 75 years as of Thursday, June 1, 2017. Though he took time off for college, Reed was hired as a bus boy by Louis Davenport, June 1, 1942, and is the hotels longest serving employee by far. To honor him, the hotel named a boardroom after Reed and will hang the photograph at left in the room.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
John Reed, the Davenport Hotel door man who was hired by Louis Davenport June 1, 1942, smiles as the gathered hotel staff and media celebrate his 75-year tenure at the hotel Thursday, June 1, 2017. A boardroom was named for him and the hotel gave him some gifts and a 75 year pin.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Longtime Davenport Hotel door man John Reed leans to look at the photo of himself that was unveiled at a ceremony to recognize that he has been at the Davenport Hotel for 75 years as of Thursday, June 1, 2017. Though he took time off for college, Reed was hired as a bus boy by Louis Davenport, June 1, 1942, and is the hotels longest serving employee by far. To honor him, the hotel named a boardroom after Reed and will hang the photograph at left in the room.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo