Lewis E. Reed

Lewis E. Reed (born October 9, 1962) is an American politician and the first ever African-American to be elected president of the Board of Aldermen for the City of St. Louis, Missouri (2007–present). Reed was named one of St. Louis' "Most Influential People" by the St. Louis Business Journal in 2012. In 2014 Reed became the first area politician to be accepted to the Local Leaders Council of Smart Growth America, "a nonpartisan group of municipal officials who share a passion for building great towns, cities, and communities."

Reed is a native of Joliet, Illinois, where he attended Joliet Central High School. Reed was a force to be reckoned with on the school's varsity wrestling team, which he joined as a freshman. Reed credits his wrestling coaches for helping him 'transform as a person' and attributes lessons learned on the mat for his successful career. Reed would go on to place third in state competition his senior year.

After graduating high school, Reed attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on a wrestling scholarship. While there, the wrestling program "vaulted to national championship status with four individual national champions and eight All-Americans under NCAA Coach of the Year Larry Kristoff." Reed majored in mathematics and computer science. He went on to become the director of networks and telecommunications for the Edison Brothers Stores’ worldwide operations. He also was the manager of data networks for SSM Health Businesses, a billion dollar health care organization and developed technology solutions.

Reed was elected alderman of the city's sixth ward in 1999. He was the first African American alderman ever elected to this position. In his term of office, Reed led the revitalization of Lafayette Square and Gate District which were part of the growth of the area including more than $1.7 Billion of investment in redevelopment and economic growth creating more than 400 new jobs.

In 2005 Reed worked with then Congressman Russ Carnahan, being long-time friends and cyclists, to establish Bike St. Louis. Reed felt it was time to create a way to connect the parks in the City for cyclists and to provide safe commuter route options. After months of planning with Alderpersons, constituents, City Agencies, and local bike organizations, the first 20 miles of continuous on-street bicycle routes were unveiled in the Spring of 2005. Signage on the routes is both MUTCD standard signage as well as custom designed signage by Kiku Obata that marks the route and provides point of interest directions and distances. A printed map was also developed and distributed which included bike safety information. In addition an educational program was created and presented to over 30 classes of middle school students.

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