Mayor Reid was elected Mayor in November 2017 to a two-year term and re-elected to a four-year term in November 2019. He is a Gastonia native, a 1975 graduate of Hunter Huss High School and received his A.A.S. Degree in Fire Science Technology from Gaston College. He’s a graduate of the North Carolina Fire College and the North Carolina Fire Prevention School at the Institute of Government, at UNC Chapel Hill. Mayor Reid is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and the R. Kennett Scott Fire Prevention School.
Mayor Reid retired as an Assistant Fire Marshal Fire & Life Safety Educator (23 years) for the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's Office on November 30, 2009 with a Level III State Certification as Fire Inspector and Level III Life Safety Educator. Prior to this, he was a Firefighter (3 years) and Fire Inspector (6 years) for the City of Gastonia. He was also a Fire Service Instructor at Gaston College (15 years).
He has been married to Doris Hill Reid since March 5, 1978 and has 3 adult children.
EXPERIENCE
Current Committees:
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission
- NC Metro Mayor’s Coalition
- Gastonia Tourism Development Authority
- Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council
Ward 4 City Council Member:
- Elected in 1995 and served until 2011 (16 years)
- Served as Mayor Pro-Tem 4 of 7 terms (1997, 1999, 2003, 2007-2011)
Former City Council Committees:
- Chairman, Central City Revitalization & Housing Committee 1995 - 2011
- Vice Chairman, Audit & Bids Committee 1995 - 1999
- Vice Chairman, Insurance Committee 1995 - 1999
- Member, Inter-Governmental & Economic Development Committee 1995 - 1997
- Chairman 1999 - 2001, 2005 - 2007, 2007-2011
- Vice Chairman 2001 - 2005
- Member, Utilities Committee 1995 - 1997
- Vice-Chairman 1999 - 2001
- Chairman 2003 - 2009
- Member, Personnel Committee 2001 - 2007
- Vice-Chairman, Equal Opportunity Development Committee 2001 - 2011
- Member-Awards, Ceremonies & Promotions, 1995 - 1999
- Vice-Chairman, 1999 - 2001
- Mayor's Youth Council Liaison, 4/2002 - 2011
- Member, All America City Team 2000 & 2010
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Image (R&B Band) 2011 - Present
- Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame Committee Member 2013-2017
- Hunter Huss Dawg Pound Alumni
- Member of Men's Fellowship 911
- Grand Jury Assistant Fore Person July - December 2015
- Fore Person January - June 2016
- Charter Member of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church
- Former Board Chairman, Gaston Boys and Girls Club
- Former Member of Salvation Army Advisory Council
- Former Member of the Board of Directors, Schiele Museum
- Former Member of the Advisory Board of the Highland Family Resource Center
- Founder of C.U.P.P. Communities United for Positive Progress
- Co-Founder of the Highland Festival
- Former Board Member of the Upward Highland Foundation
AWARDS
- Gaston Boys and Girls Club Distinguished Service Award President, Board of Directors - 2003
- Upward Highland Foundation Community Service Award - 2009
- Gaston Highland Foundation Community Service Award - 2009
- Hope 4 Gaston Community Service Award - 2011
- NAACP Gaston County Community Service Award - 2012
- Gaston County Missionary Baptist Association Community Service Award - 2012
- Gaston County Organization of Concerned Citizens Humanitarian Award - 2013
- Epsilon Upsilon Chapter Omega Citizen of the Year - 2013
- Diversified Business Professional Association Board of Director's Excellence Award - 2017
- KM Elite Circle of Champions Leadership and Excellence Award - 2018
- Genesis Project Trailblazer Award – 2018
- I.B.P.O.E.W. Citizen of the Year – 2018
- G.R.A.C.E. Award for Lifetime Achievement - 2019
- Gaston Together, Gaston Clergy, and Citizens Coalition Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Award - 2020
- The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Recipient - 2021
