• Graduated from Western Illinois University in 1976 with Honors and awarded full scholarships for achievement in 1975 and 1976
• Graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1981 representing the school in inter-college court competitions
• Practicing law in Marion County from 1982 to present
• Married to Sharon (Steele) Reed
• Raised four children (Tom, Phil, Nicole, & Tyler) in Marion County

Experience

• Represented individuals, businesses and local governments for a variety of legal matters
• Represented over 3,000 parties in bankruptcy cases in the Southern District of Illinois
• Current President of the Marion County Bar Association; Member since 1982
• Elected to the Marion County Board member from 1998 to present; Former Chairman of both the Finance and Insurance committees
• Member of the 911 Board for Marion County
• Nominated/Selected to the Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Section Committee for 2008-2009; Reappointed for 2010-2011
• Adjunct Professor at McKendree University and Kaskaskia College teaching Constitutional and Criminal Law

Community Service

• Former President and 25-year member of the Optimist Club of Centralia
• Chaired/Organized the annual Optimist’s Fishing Derby for 19 consecutive years through 2009
• Assisted in organizing a Youth Tackle Football League; Chaired the organization in 1989
• Volunteer coach for local youth athletic teams for 17 seasons
• Sold Christmas trees for local children’s projects for 17 of the last 20 years