After fifty years, Rea retired from competitive play, being at the time the second-oldest active professional player (behind Fred Davis).
ˈæftɚ fˈɪfti jˈɪɹz, ɹˈiə ɹᵻtˈaɪɚd fɹʌm kəmpˈɛɾᵻtˌɪv plˈeɪ, bˌiːɪŋ æt ðə tˈaɪm ðə sˈɛkəndˈoʊldɪst ˈæktɪv pɹəfˈɛʃənəl plˈeɪɚ bᵻhˌaɪnd fɹˈɛd dˈeɪvɪs.