Idaho Falls man honored for donating massive amount of blood
Published at | Updated atEDITOR’S NOTE: EastIdahoNews.com is teaming up with the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho to honor ordinary individuals who have done extraordinary things to help others.
The winners of the 2016 East Idaho Real Heroes awards were announced at the American Red Cross’s annual luncheon Thursday, Feb. 25. Each day, through March 7, EastIdahoNews.com will feature a different winner.
IDAHO FALLS — In November 1950, Reginald Reeves, with Duane Lloyd and other organizers, challenged fellow University of Idaho students to give blood at the first university-sponsored blood drive in the nation.
When U of I issued a challenge to others schools, Harvard University took up the challenge and other schools followed. The U of I staked its reputation as “The Bloodiest Campus in the Nation”. One year, 59 percent of the U of I students body donated blood.
Reginald recalls that one year he went to the local train station where students had gathered to see off the university football team. He grabbed a cheerleader’s megaphone and exhorted the crowd to follow him, leading a serpentine back up to the student union where a blood drive was being held.
Reginald may not lead a serpentine these days, but he still serves as a role model. At last count, he has donated 269 units of blood to the Red Cross, helping to save many hundreds of lives.