Red's Credit Problem

It started as a rumor, whispered among friends, but typical of rumors it soon was out in the public and students were talking openly about it. It was the State College Board was coming to EWC to hold a hearing about a faculty member’s conduct and records.  Next the word was that the faculty member was Red Reese.  I couldn’t believe it at first, but when Cecle West and Ed Pillings were scheduled to testify it was obviously true.  The extent of the problem would come out later but it reminded me of something Red had said to me several years earlier.  He was lamenting about being stuck in a salary slot with no chance for advancement unless he finished a degree.  It came up when he was advising me to look into the future and keep educating myself to meet the demands of the time.  That was deep conversation for me at the time, but I understood his frustration.  Red had told me he was taking a few courses at the college, but it was taking a long time to accomplish his goal.

The state body arrived one day and set up for hearings in the board room.  It was a closed door series of interviews with some college staff and Red Reese.  The word leaked out that tempers were clashing.  Red was accused of signing up for classes and then putting pressure on the instructors to give him a grade with out his required work being fulfilled.  Some of the staff, because of their position under Red’s administration felt they had no recourse but to give him the grade.  It looked bad for Red’s future with EWC, but the details moderated the charge and Red remained at the college.  We, as a team weren’t in a position to take sides and the future of our basketball play was uncertain.

The State Board held a meeting in the Showalter Auditorium to present their findings and decisions to the college and community.  As might be anticipated, the crowed was large and anxious to hear results.  To quote the college year book, Kinnikinick, “Basketball at Eastern means one thing to most people—William B. (Red) Reese.   A background of 20 years as EWC basketball mentor has given the Red Fox a national reputation as a producer of top teams; always a scrappy team.”  The results were that Red would remain as Basketball and Track coach at Eastern but the title of Athletic Director was removed.  Other results were the resignation of Cecle West and Ed Pillings.  It was their decision because of the adversarial nature of the hearings and their testimony against Red.  They had no other choice.  I was relieved the incident was over and Red had managed to maintain his coaching position. 

*Taken from "Which Road Should I Follow?, Volume 1, Growing up in the country", an autobiography by Edwin K. Hill.