Theodore Reed (zoologist)

He was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. to Ollie W. Reed Sr., an Army officer and Mildred Reed.^[1] He had an older brother, Ollie Jr., who would later become an Army officer. His older brother, serving as a lieutenant in 363th Infantry Regiment, and his father, serving as a colonel in the 175th Infantry Regiment, were killed within weeks of each other in July 1944 during World War II.^[2] They were both laid to rest in the Normandy American Cemetery in graves, Plot E, Row 20, Graves 19 and 20.^[3]

He graduated from Kansas State College (now Kansas State University) in veterinary medicine and zoology. He served as the veterinarian at the Portland Zoo in Oregon.^[1]

He joined the National Zoological Park (United States) in 1955. He was named associate director in 1956, and director in 1958. In 1972, he helped bring the pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing to the National Zoo. In 1975, he helped create the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.^[2]

He died in a nursing home in Milford, Delaware.^[1]