Neil Reagan
Encyclopedia
John Neil Reagan was a radio station manager, CBS
senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson
. He is the older brother of Ronald Reagan
.
Neil "Moon" Reagan was baptized as a Roman Catholic at birth. As an infant, Neil attended his mother's Disciples of Christ church, but became affiliated his father's Catholic faith in his youth. He was described to as a boisterous and gregarious personality in his youth. In 1933, Neil graduated Eureka College
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He followed his brother to California
and established a career as a television producer and advertising executive.
From the '30s through the '50s, Neil Reagan directed the radio series Dr. Christian
, starring Jean Hersholt
. In between he launched a brief Hollywood career as a supporting actor in films such as Tugboat Annie Sails Again
(1940) and Doughboys in Ireland (1943). Neil Reagan directed Ronald Reagan in the television series Death Valley Days
.
He served as president of both the Hollywood and Los Angeles advertising clubs, as well as served on numerous community and professional boards including: the Crippled Children's Society of Los Angeles, the Kennedy Child Study Center in Santa Monica, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
He was an alternate delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention
from California, and a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention
. Neil Reagan served two terms as trustee of the Eureka College
before his death in December 1996. The Reagan Physical Education Center on the Eureka College
campus was dedicated in 1970 in honor of both Ronald and Neil Reagan. Twelve years later, Ronald Reagan
would return to the Reagan Center to make one of his most important foreign policy speeches of his first term known as the START speech, or Eureka speech.
His wife, Bess Reagan, died in 2010 at the age of 102.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson
McCann Erickson is a global advertising agency network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies, one of the four large holding companies in the advertising industry....
. He is the older brother of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Neil "Moon" Reagan was baptized as a Roman Catholic at birth. As an infant, Neil attended his mother's Disciples of Christ church, but became affiliated his father's Catholic faith in his youth. He was described to as a boisterous and gregarious personality in his youth. In 1933, Neil graduated Eureka College
Eureka College
Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He followed his brother to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and established a career as a television producer and advertising executive.
From the '30s through the '50s, Neil Reagan directed the radio series Dr. Christian
Dr. Christian
Dr. Christian was a long-running radio series with Jean Hersholt in the title role. It aired on CBS from 1937 to 1954.After Hersholt portrayed the character Dr. John Luke, based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets, in the 20th Century Fox...
, starring Jean Hersholt
Jean Hersholt
Jean Pierre Hersholt was a Danish-born actor who lived in the United States, where he was a leading film and radio talent, best known for his 17 years starring on radio in Dr. Christian and for playing Shirley Temple's grandfather in Heidi...
. In between he launched a brief Hollywood career as a supporting actor in films such as Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Tugboat Annie Sails Again was a 1940 sequel to the classic 1933 film Tugboat Annie. Marjorie Rambeau takes over the late Marie Dressler's role, and the supporting cast includes Alan Hale, Jane Wyman, and Ronald Reagan...
(1940) and Doughboys in Ireland (1943). Neil Reagan directed Ronald Reagan in the television series Death Valley Days
Death Valley Days
Death Valley Days is an American radio and television anthology series featuring true stories of the old American West, particularly the Death Valley area. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was broadcast on radio until 1945. It continued from 1952 to 1975 as a syndicated television series...
.
He served as president of both the Hollywood and Los Angeles advertising clubs, as well as served on numerous community and professional boards including: the Crippled Children's Society of Los Angeles, the Kennedy Child Study Center in Santa Monica, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
He was an alternate delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention
1972 Republican National Convention
The 1972 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated the incumbents Richard M. Nixon of California for President and Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland for Vice...
from California, and a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention
1980 Republican National Convention
The 1980 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, from July 14 to July 17, 1980. The 32nd Republican National Convention nominated former Governor Ronald W. Reagan of California for President of the United States and former...
. Neil Reagan served two terms as trustee of the Eureka College
Eureka College
Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership...
before his death in December 1996. The Reagan Physical Education Center on the Eureka College
Eureka College
Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership...
campus was dedicated in 1970 in honor of both Ronald and Neil Reagan. Twelve years later, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
would return to the Reagan Center to make one of his most important foreign policy speeches of his first term known as the START speech, or Eureka speech.
His wife, Bess Reagan, died in 2010 at the age of 102.