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Irving Reed, former Air Force, city and airport leader, dies at 86

Irving Reed was former Division Commander of the 47th Air Division, Director of Public Works for the city of Spokane, and interim Airport Director at Spokane International Airport (Courtesy of the Reed family / Courtesy of the Reed family)
By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com(509) 459-5454
Irving Reed was former Division Commander of the 47th Air Division, Director of Public Works for the city of Spokane, and interim Airport Director at Spokane International Airport (Courtesy of the Reed family / Courtesy of the Reed family)

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Irving B. Reed was being remembered this week for his skill serving in the military and later in Spokane city and regional government. Reed died Jan. 28. He was 86.

During his career, Reed rose through the ranks in the Air Force and became the division commander for the 47th Air Division based at Fairchild. The command oversaw five bases, including Fairchild.

He retired from the Air Force in 1980 and joined the city of Spokane where he led public works and engineering services. He left the city in 1996.

His experience took him to a seat on the Spokane International Airport board where he was instrumental in major improvements at the airport, including the food and retail outlets in the main rotunda of the A and B terminals.

Reed served as interim airport director following a vacancy in that position in 2005.

“He was such a dynamic leader,” said Todd Woodard, spokesman at the airport.

“He took care of the people underneath him. You got that sense with him that you were valued and important,” Woodard said.

To honor Reed’s service, the airport board named its event venue the Irving Reed Event Center. It houses a display of military memorabilia donated by Reed.

Roger Flint, who worked as a manager under Reed at City Hall, recalled that Reed brought a degree of professionalism with him from the military.

Reed embodied an older style of leadership that expected hard work. “He had a lot of expectations of you,” said Flint, now an executive with CH2MHill Inc.

Reed was born on June 24, 1929 in Kenansville, N.C. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951 and later earned a master’s of business administration from George Washington University.

He served in numerous Air Force positions, including nearly a year in Thailand during the Vietnam War. His decorations and awards were the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal, according to the Air Force.

At City Hall, Reed led transportation improvements, increased power generation at Upriver Dam and the city-county move to close contaminated landfills and replace them with a solid waste incinerator.

In addition to the airport board, Reed, an Eagle Scout, served on the regional Boy Scouts council. He also served on boards for Red Cross, YMCA, Manito Country Club and the state Transportation Improvement Board.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Reed; sons Don Reed, Scott Reed and Clark Reed; and daughter Sonja Hoeben.

A memorial service and full obituary, including the time, date and place of the service, are expected at a later time.