Wendell G. Reed

1928 - 2016

Wendell Guilford Reed, Chairman of George Reed, Inc. and 7/11 Materials, passed away Sunday afternoon at home surrounded by his wife, Norma, his children, and grandchildren. He was 88. Wendell had been President of George Reed, Inc, a California based construction materials and heavy highway contracting firm and Chairman of the Board of Basic Resources, Inc, its parent firm which owns many other construction and construction-related companies including Reed International, 7-11 Materials, and VSS International. He had been in construction management for 66 years.
He was born in Stockton on February 12th, 1928 to George and Rose (Zimmerman) Reed founders of pioneer paving contractor George Reed. His father began his career in 1920 when he formed a company with his brother, C. E. Reed. In 1944, George formed George Reed, in Modesto, which was incorporated in 1962 becoming George Reed, Inc.
Wendell grew up in Tracy, CA before the family moved to Modesto where Wendell graduated from Modesto High School in 1946 while owning and operating a Richfield gas station on Morris Ave. He later attended Modesto Junior College before transferring to UC Berkeley to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In High School and College, in the 1940s to make ends meet, he also had an 8-piece dance band, The Downbeats, where he played piano. After graduation, he worked as a quality control engineer and project manager for a few years with the Corps of Engineers, US Army, San Francisco District on military airfield projects in Hawaii, Salt Lake City, and Castle Air Force Base, Merced, CA.
Wendell joined his father's firm, George Reed in 1953. He started as a laborer with his father saying "When you learn to use this shovel I'll give you an asphalt rake". He was named vice president in 1962 and following the death of his father in 1974, he became President. During his career the firm grew from under $150,000 to $250 million annually employing over 800 people.
Wendell had been involved with the Associated General Contractors of California where he served as president in 1982 and Chairman of the Chapter's National Affairs Committee.
Active in the local community, he was past chairman of the Salvation Army Board and life member. He received the Salvation Army "Others' award in 2003. He served on the Board and as a Trustee of the Modesto Symphony and was a member of the American Arbitration Association, the Commonwealth Club of California, American Society of Military Engineers, The Old Fisherman's Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, Del Rio Country Club, and the Modesto Rotary Club.
In June of 2015 he was honored as the Grand Marshall of Modesto's American Graffiti Parade and Festival by the North Modesto Kiwanis and a star was placed for him on Modesto's 10th Street sidewalk Walk of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, George and Rose Reed and his brother Richard Reed. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Norma Mae (O'Brien) Reed, his children, Jeffrey Randolph Reed (Margaret) of Vacaville and Modesto, Cathy Reed Bussey (Howard)of Pittsford, NY and Gregory Brien Reed (Kristen) of Modesto, CA. Grandchildren, Jordan Reed, Sacramento, CA, Cameron Reed (Josh Hattersley), Berkeley, CA, Matthew Reed (Jamie), Seattle, WA, Rhiannon Bussey Gaborski (Thomas), Henrietta, NY, Kendra Bussey, Braunschweig, Germany, Alyssa Bussey (Jean-François Roy), San Francisco, Evan Bussey, Pittsford, NY, and Connor, Garrett and Kevin Reed of Modesto and two great-grandchildren Alexander and William Gaborski.
Funeral mass will be at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 1200 Maze Blvd, Modesto, CA. 10am Thursday, December 15th with reception following.
In lieu of flowers, remembrance contributions would be appreciated to The Salvation Army, 625 I Street. Modesto, CA 95354. Or Community Hospice Foundation, 5368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356.