Marvin Poag Reid

Dr. Marvin Poag Reid, 80, of Pendleton, South Carolina, passed peacefully with family at his side on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, South Carolina. He leaves behind his loving wife, Linda Mull Reid, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.

Affectionately known as “Poagie,” he was born on December 21, 1945, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to the late Charles Darrell Reid and Mae Etta Poag Reid. In addition to his parents, Poagie was preceded in death by his siblings, Charles Donald Reid and his wife, Virginia Ruth Hinson, and Mae Etta Reid Koonce and her husband, Clarence William Koonce. Poagie, by his own admission, was “a mama’s boy.” His beloved mother, whom all called “Big Mama,” held a special place in his heart throughout her life.

Poagie came from a family of horsemen. He grew up surrounded by family who shared his interests and his passion for horses. The Reids and Poags were a large, close-knit family, and his childhood was filled with cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family who shared in the life and traditions that helped shape him. His earliest days were spent on the back of a pony, and as a boy, he even rode his pony to and from school. Poagie learned the art of the horse from his father, affectionally known as “Big Daddy.” This began a lifelong education that could never have been learned entirely from books. His younger years were spent in sale barns with “Big Daddy,” at jackpots, rodeos and ropings.  Horses were not simply an interest or an occupation for Poagie; they were a huge part of him. They were woven into the fabric that made him who he was.

Poagie attended Clemson University, where he was a member of Alpha Zeta fraternity and had the distinction of serving as the Clemson University Tiger mascot. After his junior year at Clemson, he left to begin his veterinary education at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. While attending veterinary school, Poagie worked with Clemson University officials in efforts that allowed students pursuing professional degrees to receive a bachelor’s degree in pre-professional studies after completing their first year of postgraduate professional education. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia in 1971.

Following graduation, Poagie and Linda moved to Pendleton, South Carolina, where he began his veterinary career working in a mixed-animal practice. In 1975, he opened Creek Run Veterinary Clinic, dedicating his career to serving the large-animal community of Upstate South Carolina. For many years, his work included extensive service to the region’s dairy industry before his practice became increasingly focused on equine medicine.

Equine reproduction was a particular passion throughout Poagie’s career. He embraced emerging reproductive technologies and assisted-reproduction techniques and was among the first veterinarians in the southeast to incorporate ultrasonography into his practice in the 1990s. He also worked alongside researchers at Clemson University in the development and testing of domperidone for the prevention of fescue toxicosis in pregnant mares. Domperidone would ultimately receive FDA approval for this use in 2010, and as a result, Poagie helped save the lives of many mares and foals.

Above all else, Poagie was a horseman. He had a gift. He could read a horse with his eyes and his hands, recognizing things that could not always be taught from a textbook. He was a skilled surgeon and an exceptionally talented equine practitioner. Sharp, stern, and focused when the work demanded it, he held himself and those around him to a high standard. His knowledge came from decades of study and experience, but his feel for a horse was instinctive. It was a gift he willingly shared with anyone who truly wanted to learn.

Poagie loved to teach, but he was equally committed to remaining a student himself. Throughout his career, he continually sought new knowledge, pursued continuing education, and looked for better ways to practice veterinary medicine. He believed knowledge was meant to be shared. Over the years, he and Linda opened their doors to countless students seeking hands-on experience in agriculture and veterinary medicine. For many of these people, time spent with Poagie provided much more than practical experience. He taught them to observe, to think, to ask questions, and, perhaps most importantly, to pay attention to what the animal itself was telling them.

Poagie maintained a close relationship with Clemson University throughout his professional life, including service on the Clemson Research Advisory Board during the 1980s. His commitment to agriculture and the equine community also extended far beyond his veterinary practice. He was instrumental in the effort to bring what is now the T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena to Pendleton, lobbying tirelessly for the facility to be located in the Upstate because he understood what it could mean for agriculture, livestock, horses, education, and the community he served.

Poagie was also a founding board member of the Upstate Equine Council and remained an active member for many years. Through veterinary medicine, agriculture, research, education, mentorship, and community service, he spent a lifetime investing in the people, animals, and institutions of Upstate South Carolina. In recognition of his lifetime of service and contributions to his profession, agriculture, and the people of South Carolina, Poagie was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 2022, the state’s highest civilian honor.

Together Poagie and Linda spent decades developing a recognized horse breeding program. They raised hundreds of registered Quarter Horse foals and achieved many accolades in the arena. Quarter Horse breeding in our area was forever changed through the formation of the Docs Bo Acres Syndicate, which Poagie was instrumental in putting together. The influence of Docs Bo Acres, a World Champion Halter Horse who also produced outstanding performance horses, reached far and beyond our local community.

Poagie loved hunting with bird dogs and made many trips across the country hunting from horseback. He also enjoyed taking pack trips up in the mountains with groups of family and friends. He loved to be in God’s country.  When not on a horse, Poagie could have been found underwater scuba diving. He spent many hours exploring the upstate lakes and coastal waterways finding treasures and pieces of history. Whatever interest Poagie chose to pursue, he wanted to live it to the fullest.  All of these adventures including rodeos, ropings, horse shows, hunting trips, dive trips, and long days in the saddle filled the chapters of a life that was never far removed from horses or outdoors pursuits.

As a boy, Poagie was active in the Boy Scouts, where he earned the God and Country Award and achieved the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout. This began his love for being prepared.  Those who knew Poagie will also remember the little things, too. He kept a pen in his pocket and a knife on his side, and he firmly believed everyone else ought to do the same. Practical, prepared, and rarely without an opinion on the proper way to do something, it was simply part of who he was.

Poagie was a cowboy, but more importantly, he was a horseman. It was a distinction he understood. Horsemanship was more than being able to ride or train a horse; it was knowing one—learning to read its expression, movement, behavior, and subtle changes beneath your hands. That understanding began with the lessons of his father and was refined over a lifetime spent in the saddle, in the breeding barn, and practicing veterinary medicine. He spent his life learning the horse, and he generously passed that knowledge on to generations who came behind him.

For all that Poagie accomplished in his life, nothing meant more to him than his family. He loved them deeply, and they loved him beyond measure. Poagie, who was later known as “Pobo” by some of the youngest generation, left a lasting impression of horsemanship and hard work that will endure forever. He loved the Lord, gave thanks often, and carried his faith with him throughout his life. Poagie will be waiting for us astride a big, well-bred Quarter Horse. One fine day, we will see him again.

A graveside service will be held at Mt. Holly Methodist Church, 1966 Mt. Holly Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. officiated by Rev. Larry Nunn, with visitation immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the the M. Poag Reid, DVM Scholarship Fund,  https://poag-reid-scholarship.regal-rat-5668.chatgpt.site/. This fund will support a student pursuing a degree in an agricultural-related field and create a lasting tribute to a man who meant so much to so many.

Family and friends are invited to share their memories, condolences, and photos online at www.brattonfuneralhome.com.

Bratton Funeral Home of York, S. C. is honored to serve the Reid family during this difficult time.

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