Born in Doniphan, Missouri, October 2, 1934, to Mabel and Don V. Reid, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 - 1973.

 

Jerry loved life and built a reputation as a National leader in Judo both as a competitor and as a teacher. He was the overall Grand Champion of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico in 1957. His 5-Man Team won the National Championship in 1958. He also served on the United States Judo Team in the Pan American Judo Championships that same year. He was selected to train and study Judo at the Prestigious Japanese Kodokan Judo Instate in Tokyo Japan in 1955, 1957, and 1962. He also coached the 1964 USAF Judo team through the Olympic Trials from 1963-1970 and served on the staff at the School of Combative Measures training hand to hand combat instructors for the Air Force.

 

Jerry served honorably in the Korean War and was one of the first USAF Judo Champions. After retiring from the USAF in 1973, Jerry owned and operated real estate and home-building companies in Houston and Dallas Texas. He later moved to Cassville, Missouri, where he operated local business ventures and raised Limousin cattle from 1980 - 2001.

 

In 2001, Jerry relocated to Cedar Creek Lake area southeast of Dallas, where he and his wife enjoyed fishing, their family and grandchildren.