USU’s oldest known ROTC graduate dies

The oldest known graduate of USU’s ROTC died Dec. 29 at age 99. Family and friends honored Air Force veteran Doyle “Dode” Rees Thursday. Rees’ only child, Julie Rees Rudzinski, said it is important people “celebrate, not mourn his 99 wonderful years.”

Rees led an active life and was heavily involved in national, community and USU campus activities right up until his death. Rees funded a scholarship for ROTC students and was involved with the Red Cross and March of Dimes. He witnessed the integration of troops, served in Pearl Harbor and investigated UFOs in Roswell, N.M.

With a life like that, his grandson Jon Rudzinski said, “In our eyes, he was larger than life.”

In a November interview, Rees said he had come a long way from his hometown of Benson and described himself as a “plain old country boy.”

Rees graduated from Utah Agricultural College (USU) in 1932 with a degree in business and with a second lieutenant ROTC commission. During his time at USU, he was a member of the football team, where he earned the nickname “high power Rees,” playing defensive end and tackle. Football, he said, was what he studied most.

He was also a member of a fraternity, where he said the other boys taught him a lot and smoothed out his rough edges.

After graduation, he attended George Washington University Law School. He was then called into active duty in North Carolina. Soon after, the United States was attacked by Japan, and Rees was transferred to the Pacific Command headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

He also worked for the CIA, investigating the Intermountain West.

After retiring from the Air Force, Rees and his wife Gladie returned to Logan.

Rees was a member of the USU American Legion Post 12 and the Old Main Society.

He was also involved in the planning and construction of USU’s Veteran’s Memorial and, most recently, the Col. Russell L. Maughan memorial.

Throughout Rees’ life, Julie Rees Rudzinski said he was an honorable man, a wonderful father and an amazing storyteller.

“He was an example of such nobility and persistence and discipline,” she said.

-arie.k@aggiemail.usu.edu

DOYLE “DODE” REES died Dec. 29, 2007 at age 99. Rees was the oldest USU ROTC graduate. During his career, he served at Pearl Harbor, investigated UFOs and worked for the CIA. After retirement, he returned to Logan and participated in activities at USU.