Reece Middleton, co-founder and retired executive director of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling (LACG), died Thursday following a brief illness. He was 84.
After a successful career in sales, Middleton, who held a master’s degree in counseling from Louisiana Tech, Middleton decided to turn his focus toward addiction recovery. LACG was established 1996, just two years after casinos became operational in Louisiana.
With help from the state of Louisiana and its gaming industry, Middleton founded CORE-Center of Recovery, a residential treatment center for gambling addiction, the Treatment Center for Gambling Addiction and the Outpatient Gambling Treatment Program, all free services to Louisiana residents. In addition, The Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline was established, which is toll-free and available to people in a number of states.
In 2017, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed Middleton to serve as vice-chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Board, was selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the National Council on Problem Gambling as an emeritus member.
