More than 300 turn out to honor memory of late state Rep. Mike Reese

As word spread that participation in the Mike Reese Memorial 5K Run/Walk Sunday would likely surpass the inaugural event a year ago in Westmoreland County’s Mammoth Park, it did not surprise his childhood friend Chad Zaucha.

After all, Zaucha and his family had driven 360 miles from Yorktown, Ind., to participate in the fundraiser and honor the memory of the late 59th District state representative who died Jan. 2, 2021, of an apparent brain aneurysm. Reese served 12 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and had been elected to his seventh term in office in November 2021.

He represented residents in portions of Westmoreland and Somerset counties.

“Mike was just so well respected and well-liked, even throughout high school, and through the community during his life, it’s really not a surprise at all this event is very popular,” Zaucha said. “I could see when we pulled in here today there were more people this year.

“This is so fitting (that) his life is being honored this way with an event raising money for local athletes. I can tell you when I was growing up, people looked up to him even then as a leader and a role model,” Zaucha said.

Zaucha and Reese grew up together in Mt. Pleasant Township, where the county park is located and where the run is held annually. The pair played multiple sports together at Mt. Pleasant Area High School, including baseball.

Reese, a 1996 graduate of Mt. Pleasant, went on to play football at Duquesne University while Zaucha, a 1997 graduate, played baseball while attending Indiana State University.

Zaucha is now chief executive officer of the YMCA in Muncie, Ind. He and his wife, Ashley, have four children, two boys and two girls ages 6 to 15 years old.

“Our oldest boy is named Reese after the Reese family – that’s how much I thought of them,” Zaucha said.

Event organizers said last year’s event drew about 230 participants.

“Our pre-registration for today was already at 225 and we have a lot of people lined up here still registering this morning, so we’ll probably have more than 300 participants altogether,” said event organizer and family friend Dawn Keefer.

In addition to the run, the July 4 weekend event includes a pig roast after the race, games and gift basket raffles to raise money for the memorial fund.

Last year, about $15,000 was raised. Keefer said the funds were used to provide scholarships to local high school graduates and to athletes seeking to participate in travel team athletic programs but who have limited financial resources.

Grants also were provided to athletic organizations for equipment and capital improvements.

“We hope this event continues to grow every year,” Keefer said.

Angela Reese, Mike’s wife, said she was moved by the outpouring of support for her late husband.

“I’m really overwhelmed. This is amazing,” she said.

Angela Reese thanked the participants before the start of the race.

First across the finish line was Reese’s cousin, Cody Reese, 22, of Greensburg.

“He was just a great guy. The whole family was really proud of him,” he said.

The first female finisher was Meghan Obusek, who lives near the park in the township. Eleven-year-old Nolan Kelly of Mt. Pleasant finished second.

More information on the fund is available at mikereesememorialfund.com