Ralph E. Reed, Jr.

Ralph E. Reed Jr.
Ralph Reed speaking in February 2011.
Born	Ralph Eugene Reed Jr. (1961-06-24) June 24, 1961 (age 55) Portsmouth, Virginia
Alma mater	University of Georgia (A.B.) Emory University (Ph.D.)
Known for	Founding the Christian Coalition
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	JoAnne Young (m. 1987)
Children	4 (Brittany Anne Reed, 1989; Ralph E. Reed III, 1990; Christopher "12 Gauge" Ryan Reed, 1992; Nicole Lynn Reed, 1997.)

Ralph Eugene Reed Jr. (born June 24, 1961) is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006, to state Senator Casey Cagle. Reed started the Faith and Freedom Coalition in June 2009. Reed and his wife JoAnne Young were married in 1987 and have four children.

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Navy ophthalmologist Ralph Reed and mother Marcy Read, young Ralph moved often as a child, but spent the majority of his childhood in Miami, Florida. He moved with his family to in 1976, earning Eagle Scout at BSA Troop 77 and graduating from Stephens County High School in 1979. He attended the University of Georgia where he earned an A.B. in history in 1985. After failing to properly cite an article in his role as editor of the college newspaper, Reed was discharged from his duties for plagiarism. Reed was a member of the Demosthenian Literary Society, the Jasper Dorsey Intercollegiate Debate Society, and College Republicans. He was also a columnist for The Red & Black student newspaper. He is also an alumnus of the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia, an organization that teaches conservative Americans how to influence public policy through activism and leadership. Reed also attended Emory University where he was awarded a Ph.D in American History in 1989.