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Published in Spartanburg Herald-Journal from Jan. 14 to Jan. 15, 2015
SPARTANBURG, SC-- Dr. James Wilford Reese, 68, of Spartanburg, SC, died Friday, January 9, 2015 at Magnolia Manor of Inman. Born September 15, 1946, he was the son of the late Wilford William Reese and Geneva Margaret Lamb Reese.
A veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, he was a retired professor of economics at USC Upstate. He received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University and his Doctorate from the University of Tennessee in Econometrics.
After obtaining his Ph.D., James worked for the Treasury Department in Washington DC during the Nixon administration. He later took a teaching position with the overseas division of the University of Maryland, where he taught college level business courses to military personnel stationed in Europe and Asia. He eventually returned to SC, where he taught at USC Upstate, retiring after more than 25 years as a tenured, full professor.
During his tenure as a professor, he took numerous sabbaticals, traveling around the world to lecture and spread economic principles. He lectured in Korea, Japan, China, and Cuba, laying the ground work for trade relations. He loved exploring the outdoors during his travels and enjoyed skiing, motor biking, hiking, and kayaking. He obtained his black belt in Tai Kwon Do while studying in Japan. He was also an excellent photographer, capturing and preserving scenes from his many experiences around the world.
Survivors include a son, Alex Reese of Spartanburg, SC; a brother, The Honorable Glenn Reese and his wife Janis of Inman, SC; and a sister, Eleanor Huneycutt and her husband Avery of Inman, SC; a brother-in-law, Cecil Bradley and his wife Kay of Inman, SC; and nine nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Judy Bradley.
Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, January 16, 2015 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 626 Norwood St., Spartanburg, SC 29302, conducted by the Rev. Neil Y. Wood.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Parkinson's Disease Research Center - Emory University, 1440 Clifton Road NE, Suite 170, Atlanta, GA 30322. An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/spartanburg/obituary.aspx?n=james-wilford-reese&pid=173844458&fhid=6043#sthash.9hcBEBTs.dpuf
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Robert Bolland
I was so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I initally met him during my early associations with UM's Far East Division (Yokota AFB faculty meeting during Aug. '75) as well as during various teaching assigments to Taiwan, Korea, and Okinawa. Jim and I spent a fair amount of time exploring Okinawa's northern jungle areas via our Yamaha off-road motorcycles. I loved his southern accent in using his Japanese ("Ohayou gozaimasu ya all"), well I made up the last part, but you get the idea. Jim will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and most assuredly myself.
Ronald Schlundt
Condolences to Jim's family and friends in the US . He and I spent a lot of time together when we taught in the Asian Division ("Far East Division") in the mid l970's. We were both part of a very small group of four faculty who came over mid-year of academic 1974-75 arriving in Tokyo on the same plane in January of that year.. I had talked to him a year or so ago and had known that he was ill , but the news came as a very sad surprise, for sure.
Ron Schlundt
Lucy Schultz
Ah, those wonderful w/end trips, as overseas Marylanders . . . one I remember most fondly was with Jim Reese and Dennis Gwynn. We were in Tokyo for the winter break, and I invited myself to join Jim and Dennis on a little trip to Fujisan, and this in Jim's tw0-seater TR4. Dear Dennis sat (perched) in the wayback. Jim knew the inn we were headed for . . . and after hot baths (it was bitter cold) and kimonos, we sat around a public room drinking warm sake. And of course, admiring Fujisan from a distance. A lovely way to remember Jim, personality plus. And so gracious to include me on their trip.
Dennis Gwynn
Immensely clever, he was hugely entertaining in getting me to assist in some of his numerous schemes : industrial robotics, selling tons of scrap aluminum in Korea ( I got him an order for a shipload of aluminum every other month), shipping cattle to Cuba in "cowtainers"(I found the cowtainers for him).
Jim and I had interesting phone conversations. We communicated more or less adequately in spite of my hearing loss and his speech impediment.
Never one to back down and play it safe, he had great courage and was not afraid of anything or anyone.
After 39 years of knowing Jim, the planet will be a calmer and less interesting place without him.
Dennis Gwynn
Jim began teaching at Camp Humphries in a room with a view of dancing ladies. Jim was blind to how his students would focus their attention on pretty young ladies rather than his economics lecture. Jim was strongly focused on ladies, commented "Lock up your women, Jim is in town" was literally true.He was innovative, beliving in and always wanting the latest technology, and was blazingly clever...when his Nakamichi tape deck failed he sold it back to the Nakamichi company as a study in failure. When his rattletrap Datsun was refused entry to Korea, he got Maryland to cover the impoundment storage bill.
My first memory of him was him striding rapidly down a tachikawa BOQ hallway and putting out his grime covered hands toward me saying "Yahaa!" As a mechanic, I laughed at that beginning a 40 year friendship in which I would help his business schemes. He encountered a man who had a lot of scrap beverage cans. Jim directed me to the US Embassy and I met a factory owner in need of aluminum. "Jim, can you supply a shipload every other month?" Jim later replied " We'd best be careful, we may be eating aluminum for the rest of our lives".
Jim visited Cuba and found that they needed cattle. " Dennis can you find Cowtainers for me?
Although I found the cattle shipping containers, Jim was concerned about payment and decided not to go through it.
Afraid of no one he confronted a room full of midnight revelers that was interfering with his sleep.
Anything involving Jim was an adventure. The world will be a calmer more boring place without him. He will certainly be missed.