There’s something very special about Bob Reed — perhaps it’s the confidence of a man who has played in the Big League or his ease with bringing people into his conversation. It could be his dazzling smile and his dashing sense of style. Actually, it’s what is underlying all of that … a huge heart with a deep mission to help the “home team” stay engaged and get better at this game we all call “Life”!

Growing up in the Vallejo-Oakland Bay area, Bobby Reed learned to carve his own path, to endure and lean in, and to rise above to go beyond. A gifted athlete, he led both high school and college teams to league championships in track & field, as well as football, and was inducted 50 years later into Vallejo Community College’s Hall of Fame. After studying Sociology at the University of the Pacific, Reed went on to a professional football career spanning over 8 years, playing halfback for teams that included the Canadian Football League and the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, where he was one of the very few selected from 147 free agents to join the squad of the newly formed team back in 1962.

Post-sports career, Reed went moved forward with his vision to help young people across all demographics and backgrounds. It was Jackie Robinson who helped get Reed involved with a youth program, Colony House, and that experience launched Reed into a lifetime mission of making a difference. Serving on many boards over the years, Reed has not only mentored kids directly, he has also raised significant funds for organizations, programs and charities that impact the lives of young people, such as serving on the executive board of the Center for Disabilities, raising over $200,000 during his 10-year involvement. He credits the values and principles he learned from playing sports, especially football, for teaching him “how to play for your teammate.”

Director of New York Project Challenge in the early 2000s, Reed’s company B-Reed Enterprises, LLC offered services that supported organizations across an array of financial, insurance, and office asset needs. Not one for slowing down — “Age isn’t a number, it’s an attitude,” says Reed — he continues to serve on the board of Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC), a program that assists veterans with families in obtaining and/or “sustaining housing, VA benefits, health care, employment, and public benefits.”

Formerly the “Face of Siro’s,” many know Reed from his years of hosting at the famous summer gathering place, where his “meet & greet” ease networked connections between people and worlds. Many recognize him locally for his years of service on the executive board of The Salvation Army and the Rotary Club of Saratoga. And, of course, many of us have benefited from his leadership and community involvement with the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609. Regardless, Saratoga is stronger, wiser, and better from having Robert-Bobby-Bob Reed on our Team — working for our youth and for all of us!

RESOURCES

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bob.reed.10420

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobreedvikings/

Celebrity Shot: Bob Reed
The former Minnesota Viking weighs in on the state of the NFL before Super Bowl LVI...and remembers the late, great Marylou Whitney (Saratoga Living After Hours; Feb 12, 2022)

Exclusive Interview: Former Viking Bob Reed
For Bob Reed, his accomplishments on the football field led to many connections off the field that has fueled his charitable endeavors that continue today. (Sports Collectors Digest; Apr 05, 2011)

NFL Saratoga Springs Resident Bob Reed One of Vikings 50 Greatest Players
(Saratogian; 12/16/2010)

VCHC: https://www.vchcny.org/veterans-housing-programs/veteran-community-housing