Podge McCauley Reed, Jr

On June 21, 2022, Podge McCauley Reed, Jr., 81 of Clarksville, Maryland passed way at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in 1940 in Shreveport, Louisiana to the late Ione and Podge Reed, Sr.

Podge was a loving husband, father, grandfather, USMA graduate, Soldier, Business Executive, 10 ½ years Double-lung transplant survivor and overall Mentor and Role Model. The leadership that he provided, especially to his family, will never be forgotten.

Podge received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy West Point (1964) and a Master of Hospital Administration degree from Baylor University (1980). He served 20 years on active duty with the U.S. Army, serving seven years as a field artillery officer and commanded two field artillery batteries. Thirteen years of his military career were spent as a Healthcare Professional as a Medical Service Corps officer with duty at three Army hospitals, the Office of the Army Surgeon General and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) as well as the Pentagon.  Podge retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following his military service, he transitioned into the private sector as a successful Business Executive for many years.  He joined the staff of the American Hospital Association (AHA) in 1984 and served as the Director of Region 3 (seven mid-Atlantic states) and as Vice President/Special Assistant to the President for ten-years. In 1991, Podge became president and chairman of the board of Rodessa Oil and Land Company which is a family-owned business. The company specializes in the production of pine timber, crude oil and natural gas in Louisiana and Texas. In 2016 he stepped down as president but continue to serve as chairman of the board of the company and its subsidiary corporation, CAA Production. He also spent time as a Senior Vice President for a private Medicare Billing firm and then as an independent consultant to a North Carolina health care firm until 2013.

Podge received a lung transplant on December 18, 2011, and without the transplant, he would have been unable to continue being a husband, father, grandfather, friend, and volunteer. Podge joined the Patient and Family Advisor Council (PFAC) in 2012 and in 2016, he elevated his passion of improving the patient and family experience by becoming the Adult PFAC Co-Chair advocating on behalf of patients and families, as well as his own health.  As Podge wrote for himself – “Johns Hopkins Hospital has provided me with the gift of life. Volunteering as a patient advocate is a way, I can provide a little payback for the opportunity Johns Hopkins provided me.”  He was the definition of a dedicated advisor, patient advocate, and fearless PFAC leader. He somehow managed to participate in everything that came his way. Podge was a long-time Board of Trustees member, an advocate for open notes (patient medical records), a panelist for a couple Grand Rounds sessions, a driving force and editor for the current Patient Handbook, an educator for new medical students, new home health employees and nurse residency programs, and was the author of the letter behind The Patient Wishlist at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Podge was happily married to Natalie Reed for 58 years.  Together they raised a daughter- Kathy Robertson, (husband Bruce), Son-McCauley Reed. Three grandchildren, Chandler Reed, (Fiancé Adrian Moreno), Ashley Rutherford, (husband Bryan), Austin Robertson, (Fiancé Jenna Dean).  He is survived by his brother, Agee A Reed, Sr and Sister-in-law, Ida Holbrook, a niece and many nephews.

Podge’s passion over the past three decades has been focused on being a loyal husband, father, grandfather and role model to his family. His unmatched love and support of his three grandchildren of both their educational and athletic activities provided him so much joy and happiness.  The bond that he developed with each one of them guided not only their daily lives but helped frame them as the successful young adults that they are today. They will dearly miss his calls, text messages and special gifts during the holidays. 

For those of us who were lucky enough to know Podge, we knew him as a devoted and passionate person. He was a force to be reckoned with, both in the sense of advocating on behalf of patients and families, and with his own health.  His unconditional love and fighting spirit that he instilled in each of us will never be forgotten. He will live in our hearts forever.

A visitation will be held at 6pm-8pm on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029 and a funeral mass will be held at 10am on Friday, July 8, 2022, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029 with a luncheon to follow in the church hall for 11am-2pm.  He will be laid to rest at United States Military Academy West Point at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to:

The Johns Hopkins Lung Transplant Program. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Podge M Reed, Jr.  to the Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery in support of the lung transplant program.  Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University and forward to: Samantha Oliphant, Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 550 North Broadway, Suite 722, Baltimore, MD, 21205. To make an online gift, please visit: https://secure.jhu.edu/form/surgery

or West Point Association of Graduates – Please send a donation in memory of LTC Podge M. Reed, Jr. ’64.  To make an online gift please visit: www.westpointaog.org or by check to The West Point Association of Graduates, Attn: Long Gray Line Fund, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996

From the West Point Alma Mater – “And when our work is done, our course on earth is run, May it be said, ‘Well Done; Be Thou At Peace.”

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