Updated: June 28, 2023 to include service details.
It is with great sadness that the City of Pearland announce the passing of Mayor Emeritus Tom Reid, 97, a dedicated public servant who served his community for 44 years. Mayor Reid passed away peacefully on June 24, 2023.
“Mayor Reid was an inspiration and friend who I will dearly miss,” said Mayor Kevin Cole. “His legacy will always be an important part of Pearland, and I only hope that I can continue to add to the community he so dearly loved.”
Mayor Reid served the City of Pearland for 44 years with unwavering dedication and commitment as a councilmember and mayor. During his tenure, Mayor Reid worked tirelessly to improve the lives of residents and bring positive change to the city.
Under his leadership, Mayor Reid oversaw numerous important initiatives, including the expansion of public services, the development of new public facilities, and the creation of new job opportunities. His dedication to the city and its people was unparalleled, and his contributions to the community will be remembered for generations to come.
The loss of Mayor Reid is felt deeply by the entire city. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who knew and loved him.
Services for Mayor Emeritus Reid will be held at First Church Pearland, 1850 Broadway Street, Pearland TX 77581. On Friday, June 30, 2023, from 4-8 p.m., Mayor Emeritus will be lying in state. Cards will be available for guests to send Mayor Reid farewell messages. On Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 10 a.m. a memorial service celebrating the Mayor's life will be held at First Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to one of the charities that Mayor Emeritus Reid was passionate about:
Mayor Reid is survived by his daughter, Trisha Robison, and his son, Carl Reid.
The City of Pearland will be forever grateful for the dedication and service of Mayor Reid. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we work to build a better future for our community.
Blueprint of a Leader Built to Serve
Born in Houston in 1925, Mayor Reid grew up in a small town in Central Texas and moved to Pearland with his family in 1965. With a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and experience from his time in the Navy during World War II, Mayor Reid began his career as a contractor for NASA Johnson Space Center.
The mayor’s career with NASA would arguably serve as the impetus for motivating him to build Pearland into what the city has become today.
“When I moved to Pearland, we only had about 2,500 people,” Mayor Reid told Community Impact in a 2015 article. “It was all rice fields and cattle land. If you worked at the Space Center, it was an upscale community down there. I would come back home to Pearland and knew we needed to do the same thing.”
Mayor Reid held a long and impactful career dedicated to the Pearland community. He served five years as a city councilmember before being elected mayor in 1973, which he held for a combined 39 years over two stints, from 1973-1990 and again from 1993-2020.
The mayor’s combined 44 years dedicated to the City of Pearland would outlast his professional 32-year career with NASA. While building the framework for Pearland, he managed complex projects and tight budgets for NASA’s Gemini, Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. From 1990-1993, he took a brief hiatus as mayor due to travel requirements with NASA.
In a 2020 interview with Community Impact about his upcoming retirement, Mayor Reid said, “I thought, ‘We were building something for the moon, why not build something in Pearland?’ And that has ways been my objective.”
Through his exceptional vision and unwavering commitment to success, Mayor Reid navigated Pearland through its exponential population growth, surging from 6,644 residents in 1970 to an estimated 130,000 in 2020—a remarkable increase of over 20 times since he first took office. His steadfast determination and goal-oriented approach propelled Pearland towards unprecedented development and prosperity.
The mayor adopted the phrase “cosmopolitan suburb” when describing Pearland and would comment proudly on its ability to reflect the diversity of the country.
“I love the energy and variety in our neighborhoods, parks, offices, residents, and restaurants,” the mayor said.
Mayor Reid believed that fostering regional collaborations in transportation, surface water management, and air quality was vital for Pearland and the greater Houston Gulf Coast region. He worked closely with local, regional, and state entities, playing a pivotal role in elevating Pearland as the community of choice.
The mayor served with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the Bay Area Transportation Partnership, the Economic Alliance of the Houston Port Region, the Gulf Coast Water Authority, Brazoria Drainage District #4, the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, the Development Authority of Pearland, and the Texas Association of Regional Councils, all of which proved instrumental in creating partnerships that led to and continue to lead to development in Pearland.
Notable developments that occurred during his tenure include expanding Pearland west to its current border along Almeda Road/FM521; expanding public safety services to include an exemplary police department, the conversion of an all-volunteer fire department to a full-time employed fire department, developing city departments as population grew, cultivating the city’s parks and trails systems, and bringing large residential developments and small and large businesses to promote economic growth.
“As Pearland grew, we were able to start matching it up with our master plan that we put in,” Mayor Reid said. “Put your manufacturers real close to the beltways and state highways so [people] could get in and out fast – it was like putting together the plans at the Space Center.”
Mayor Reid believed his most important accomplishments revolve around promoting lifelong education. His dedication to lifelong learning is evident in the inception of Pearland's first public library (which has now been converted to the Pearland’s senior center, the Melvin Knapp Activity Center, a community center for Pearland-area seniors). As the library flourished, it transformed into a County Library, and the City allocated a space in the newly-constructed Community Center adjacent to City Hall to nurture its growth. When the library eventually outgrew the Community Center, Mayor Reid played a pivotal role in securing funding for a standalone building, aptly located across the street from City Hall, that proudly bears his name.
“I campaigned vigorously to make sure that [Pearland] had a quality library building to emphasize that fact that we need education in our community,” Mayor Reid said.
Mayor Reid's instrumental efforts extended to securing a prime location for the University of Houston Clear Lake Pearland campus on Pearland Parkway—a vibrant extension of the esteemed UHCL system.
It was also during his tenure that the West Pearland Library, an item on the 2019 Bond Referendum, passed. The state-of-the-art two-story library services the west side of Pearland and features dedicated areas to service specific age groups, a 100-seat teaching theater, and conference and study rooms, and connects to the City’s Clear Creek Trail.
Mayor Reid also served on the Pearland ISD District Education Improvement Committee, the Adult Reading Center, the Pearland Historical Society, and the Pearland Arts League. His tireless advocacy for education has not only enriched the lives of Pearland residents but has also fostered a culture of lifelong learning that will endure for generations to come.
In 2020, Mayor Reid announced his intent to retire at the end of his mayoral term.
“I love what I do, being mayor, serving the community and making the community something special,” Mayor Reid said. “But I think it’s time to now end this chapter and focus more on spending quality time with friends and family.”
Upon his retirement, Mayor Reid received the esteemed title of Mayor Emeritus from the City of Pearland, a position created in his honor. As Mayor Emeritus, he would continue to actively engage with the community, representing the city at various events and serving as a goodwill ambassador.
Mayor Reid's commitment to community service extended far beyond his administrative duties. He dedicated himself to numerous community organizations and causes. As an Eagle Scout, he exemplified the values of scouting and went on to serve as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts. He actively participated in the Pearland Area Citizens Corps, contributing his time and expertise to promote community preparedness and safety. Additionally, Mayor Reid served as an Ordained Elder at the First Presbyterian Church, embodying his deep faith and commitment to spiritual leadership.
Furthermore, he was an esteemed member of the C.F. Spencer Mason Lodge, attaining the distinguished rank of 32 Degree Mason, and actively participated as a Shriner. Through his involvement in these esteemed organizations, Mayor Reid exemplified his dedication to philanthropy, brotherhood, and the betterment of society.
Mayor Reid’s most recent public appearance took place on March 21, 2023, at the United States Post Office on East Walnut that was named in his honor, recognizing his many years of service to Pearland.
At the end of May 2023, Mayor Reid was placed in hospice care. He passed away peacefully on June 24, 2023 surrounded by family and friends.
Mayor Reid's unwavering dedication and service to the City of Pearland leave an indelible mark of gratitude. His remarkable legacy will forever serve as an inspiration, illuminating our path as we strive to construct a brighter future for our cherished community.
