Gov. Reed memories

The April 14 article regarding former Gov. John Reed of Fort Fairfield was right on track. I would like to add to the personality of Gov. Reed.

One late afternoon in the early ’60s, Gov. Reed met with members of the then Maine Potato Council, at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle, to be followed by a dinner for the governor and the general public across town. After the council meeting, I was parked in my small two-door Mainline Ford in front of the hotel. I was a young editor of “The Potato Councillor” waiting with others, for people who may have been dropped off earlier and needed a ride to the dinner.

Suddenly Gov. Reed, who I hardly knew, opened the passenger door, brought the passenger seat forward and climbed into the back seat. One or two other people got into the car and we were off to dinner. The governor could have ridden in a bigger car with much more comfortable seats. He even could have waited for someone to open a door for him.

Gov. Reed’s interest in horses most likely originated from the farm. His father, a potato grower, Walter Reed of Fort Fairfield, used to do business with my father, draft horse dealer Gunnar Johnson in Caribou.

Richard A. Johnson

Sebec