Robert Reed

Robert R. Reed II LUBBOCK- Robert Bob R. Reed II, 88, of Lubbock died Sunday morning, January 13, 2013, peacefully, surrounded by family. Robert, a Pennsylvania native, served his country as a Combat Medic, assigned to the 311th Infantry 78th Lightning Division, during World War II. After returning home from the war, he attended Penn State University where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. In 1957, Robert moved his family to West Texas to take a teaching position at Texas Technological College where he taught in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. As a result of TTC's growing student enrollment, new dormitories were built north of the Plant and Soil Science Building. In the area where the grounds were being cleared, Robert noticed some grapevines and asked permission to dig them up. After receiving permission, he took the vines home where he planted one as a cover for the patio in his backyard. Clinton Doc McPherson, a Tech chemistry professor, met Robert in a field of pickling cucumbers, where Robert was doing research. This friendship which began over a discussion about pickling cucumbers quickly transitioned to the wasted grapes in Robert s backyard, leading to the collaboration which resulted in Llano Estacado Winery and the modern wine industry in West Texas. After retiring from Texas Tech in 1984 Robert gave his time, financial resources, and shared his horticulture knowledge with the Lubbock Meals on Wheels, where he volunteered for over 25 years and the South Plains Food Bank. Additionally he was a charter member and long time treasurer of the Golden K Chapter of Kiwanis. Robert is survived by his three children, Robert Reed III, of Denver, Colo., John Reed, of Amarillo, Texas, and Catherine Reed Padgett, of Wilmington, N.C.; and his brother Harold Reed, of Enterprise, Ala. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to the Lubbock Meals on Wheels or to the Robert R Reed Scholarship Endowment, Department of Plant & Soil Science at Texas Tech, Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409.