DR. ROBERT DARROW MANAGING & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SHREVEPORT LITTLE THEATRE & ACADEMY
Our region’s theatre and counseling community has lost an outstanding actor, counselor and friend.
Reece Middleton, 84, was born on Oct. 5, 1935, in McCaysville, Ga., to Frank and Thelma Middleton. Reece died on Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Shreveport, La., after a brief illness.
As a teenage actor, I was lucky enough to have met Reece Middleton while rehearsing for Shreveport Little Theatre’s production of the musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” It was the summer of 1977, and a beautiful actress by the name of Marshall Boudreaux was also in the cast. Reece and Marshall, hit it off and the rest is history.
Reece was passionate about creating live theatre and telling our stories. He appeared next at SLT in the musical “Hello, Dolly!” in 1977. Other SLT productions include “The Best Little Whore House in Texas,” staged in 1984, Man Alive in 1992, “The Ginger Bread Lady” in 1984, “That Championship Season” in 1995, “The Stanley Parkers” in 1977, “The Woman in Black” in 1997, “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 2011 and “Buried Child” in 2012. When not performing at SLT, you could find Reece performing on other stages in Shreveport and Bossier City.
Reece had a deep and abiding interest in strong drama. Reece’s interest in well-written drama provided a strong attraction for his participation in theatre.
Reece once considered himself the "Susan Lucci of Shreveport Community Theatre," since he was nominated five times for Times’ Drama Awards before finally receiving one for his portrayal of Big Daddy in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Other nominations were for “Picnic,” “That Championship Season,” “Inherit the Wind” and “Lady in Black.” Reece received first place in Louisiana for his work in “The Stanley Parkers” during Louisiana AACTFEST '97. Reece once stated that his favorite role was Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill's compelling autobiographical drama “Long Day's Journey into Night.”
Local actor Richard Folmer said, “Reece was a dear and talented friend! Large role, ’ Inherit the Wind’; small role, ’ Twelve Angry Men ‘; musical, ‘The Fantastics.’ He attacked them all with the same dedication! Rest in peace, my friend, and thank you for being you!
Social media posts by his friends elucidate this genuine southern gentleman, who always made a point to speak with you or meet you. Reece was an effective leader with a kind and calm demeanor.
Before my current job with SLT, I was the executive director of a local social service organization, so I attended numerous community nonprofit meetings, and Reece was always there representing his organization. It was always clear that Reece was well-respected and loved.
Reece was the retired executive director of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, of which he was co-founder. Reece was a veteran of the Korean War in 1958 and a National Guardsman.
Reece focused on helping others and began a career in counseling and administration in the field of addiction recovery.
The last 18 years before his retirement were spent specializing in working with compulsive gamblers. With considerable help from the state of Louisiana and the gaming industry, Reece founded CORE — Center of Recovery, a residential treatment center for gambling addiction, the Outpatient Gambling Treatment Program and the Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline. All services are free to Louisiana residents, and the helpline is toll-free to persons in numerous states.
Reece was a former executive vice president of the National Council on Problem Gambling, which honored him with the prestigious Herman Goldman Award, now the Msgr. Dunn Award, in 2006. After retirement he was selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the National Council on Problem Gambling as an emeritus member.
Reece also took great pleasure in national and international travel with his wife, Marshall. He was active in the Episcopal Church serving as senior warden and vestryman at Church of the Holy Cross. He was appointed by the governor of Louisiana to the Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Board in 2017, serving as vice-chairperson. He received the Outstanding Professional Award given by the Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders in 1999, was a former Rotarian and previous board member of Shreveport Little Theatre and the Shreveport--Bossier Rescue Mission.
Reece’s legacy is the thousands of lives he touched — his family, his theatre audiences and those he assisted in conquering their addiction.
Reece is survived by his wife, Marshall Boudreaux Middleton; two daughters, Lindsey Gehman and husband, Mike, and Reece Disney Middleton; two step-children, Louis Wallace and wife Camilla, and Samantha Lee; sisters-inlaw, Margaret Boudreaux and Barbara Middleton; grandchildren, Sarra, Hanna, Nicholas, Gabrielle, Tess, Dakota and wife Bailey, Hannah and Ian; greatgranddaughter, Juniper, as well as several close first cousins and their families.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, 1325 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71111 or at www.helpforgambling.org or to the charity of the donor's choice.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE July 31 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.