DENVER -- U.S. Olympic Committee chief financial officer Early Reese
resigned Friday, ending a difficult four-year tenure during which he allegedly
failed to disclose mismanagement and fraud by executives above him.
Reese was close with former USOC chief executive Lloyd Ward, who resigned in
March 2003 after he was accused of helping his brother's company land Olympic
business.
Two years ago, then-Sen. Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell called for Reese to
resign, alleging Reese kept many of Ward's misdeeds private.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Reese said his
resignation had nothing to do with the past turmoil. He merely wants to pursue
other interests. He said he will help USOC chief executive Jim Scherr with the
search for his replacement through March.
"I've been here 4{ years. I've had a great experience with the Olympic
movement," Reese said. "I think the time is right. It's the end of the
quadrennium, they're getting ready to start a new four-year period. Jim is at
the head of the movement, and he needs time to put a team in place that will be
with him for a while."
Reese's departure marks another key personnel change for an organization
that has greatly streamlined its upper management -- for example, the
policy-making board of directors was cut from 123 members to 11 -- as part of an
effort to clean things up after a long line of scandals that culminated with
Ward's resignation.
The USOC had six presidents and CEOs leave between 2000 and Ward's departure
three years later.
Scherr and chairman Peter Ueberroth will take part in the search for Reese's
replacement.
"The positive contributions Early Reese has made to the U.S. Olympic
movement have benefited the organization and America's athletes
significantly," Scherr said in a statement.
Reese said he didn't want to discuss the problems of the past.
"That was two years ago," he said. "I think the progress that has been
made over the last two years has been extremely positive. I don't want to
reflect on the past. I'm looking forward."
------
On the Net:
USOC: http://www.usoc.org