A.J. "Jack" Reed was the quarterback of the 1926 Pearl River College Wildcats which won a second consecutive state championship. Through Reed's leadership the Wildcats cruised to a 6-1 mark, losing only to Loyola of New Orleans. The Wildcats scored 175 points, while giving up only 31.  

After Pearl River, Reed transferred to Tulane University. He married his high school sweetheart in 1929 and returned to the Picayune area to live.  

He served as city manager of Picayune for 40 years.  

Reed was born in Clark County in 1907 but he moved to Picayune in 1909. He finished high school at Picayune before attending PRC.