Jack Edward Reese was born to William James and Alyce Genevieve (Pace) Reese in Henderson, North Carolina on April 12, 1929. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Berea College in 1951 and continued on to the University of Kentucky, where he earned his Master's Degree in 1953 and his Doctorate in 1961. He also served in the United States Navy from 1953 to 1957 and reached the rank of Lieutenant junior grade. Reese married Nancy Ann Larsen on August 31, 1957 and the couple had two children. After completing his PhD, Reese joined the English faculty at Tennessee. Here, he progressed in the English department before moving into Graduate Studies administration.

In 1972, Reese was promoted to Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He was promoted to Chancellor in 1973, where he remained for 16 years. During this time, he succeeded in increasing state funding for UT and was among the first to realize the potential for closer ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory by establishing several of the first joint programs. He was especially proud of the John C. Hodges Library renovation that took place during his tenure as chancellor. Reese also established the first centers and chairs of excellence, enhancing UT's research efforts and national profile as a leading research institution. After stepping down as Chancellor, Reese began directing the College Scholars Program, which allows outstanding students to design their own customized courses of study.

Reese's community and statewide service included working as chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission, member of the Metropolitan Planning Commission, chair of the Knoxville Waste Management Committee, and board member for Webb School, Knoxville Opera Company, Knoxville Urban League, and Tennessee Technology Foundation. He also helped to organize the Knoxville Writers' Guild. Reese died on May 9, 2005 in Knoxville, Tennessee at the age of 76.