Former barker at Circus Circus is Navy’s leading optometrist

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 8:46 a.m.

Keven C. Reed recently reported to Naval Station Jacksonville, Fla., for the final assignment in a career he began in 1977.

In between, the 1969 Clark High School graduate traveled the world, achieved the rank of Navy captain and became the Navy's specialty leader for optometry while serving as the assistant staff director at the Joint Readiness Clinical Advisory Board.

The Defense Meritorious Service Medal Reed was awarded following his three-year assignment with on the advisory board at Fort Detrick, Md., was signed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Reed is the son of Ardys Reed, now of Mexico, Ind., and the late Thomas B. Reed, a bomber pilot who retired from the Air Force while station at Nellis Air Force Base during the time his future Navy son attended Clark High.

"I have always been a biology nerd," says Keven Reed, who took advanced biology classes at Clark, as well as Russian. His favorite memory of Las Vegas, however, is the summer job he took following graduation at Circus Circus.

"I love to tell people about when I worked as a barker on the midway at Circus Circus," he said. "I'll never forget the Sleeping Beauty bed toss, which I wasn't supposed to work or see. But, after a few hours of nervously collecting money in front of a scantily clothed dancer in the show, the floor manager rushed in and said, 'Oh, Keven, how old are you? I didn't realize you weren't 21!'

"Then he led me away to another job, knowing full well that he'd given a very naive high school graduate tachycardia (racing pulse) by letting me work burlesque for about 30 minutes before 'discovering' his 'error.' "

Reed's interest in biology quickly reverted to the more studious aspects of the science. He attended Indiana University and earned a bachelor's in biological sciences in 1973. He then went into the graduate program at Indiana and earned the doctor of optometry degree in 1977.

The new eye doctor joined the Navy while still in graduate school, receiving his commission as an ensign in 1975 and serving on active duty for training at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., in 1976.

Following completion of his clinical training in 1977, he began a career that has ranged from Japan and the Philippines to Fort Detrick, where he served as the Navy's specialty leader, or consultant, for optometry from March 2001 to March 2004. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

According to Reed, his present assignment at Naval Hospital Jacksonville will be his final one with the Navy. Summing up his career for his alma mater's alum newsletter, Reed expounded on Navy life beyond the eye clinic.

"My unexpectedly exciting career has enabled me to ride a nuclear fast-attack submarine, watch gray whales from a helicopter, take survival training in water and jungle environments, (scuba) dive extensively, lecture on venomous marine animals, and work in Cuba during the global war on terrorism."

Reed and his wife, Kiyoko, have three adult daughters. The sailor is already eyeing a second sea-oriented career.

"My future plans are to study coral taxonomy and diseases ofscleractinian (stony) corals much more intently," he said in email. "I have been blessed with making friends with some wonderful international coral biologists along with a successful naval career."

In brief

Christopher Lilley, Valley High School class of 2000 and son of Margaret Lilley of Las Vegas, has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army after successfully completing the Army ROTC program and graduating with a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho.