The man known as 'Nugget' passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 85, leaving an incredible legacy.

Reid had held almost every position imaginable at the Temora football club, from premiership winning-coach to president.

"He loved that football club. I cannot describe it any better," Temora mayor Rick Firman said.

"He lived and breathed the club. He didn't want his name on a jam tin, he just wanted to continue the tradition of his father, who he loved so dearly, and give everything to his club.

"He was a representative player, he was chairman of selectors, a committeeman, vice-president, president, he was on tribunals for a time, timekeeper and I took over from him as goal umpire... He just took you under his wing and made you feel that you mattered."

Reid's family influence was also incredible. His son Phil won 10 club best-and-fairest awards and grandsons Adam, Dan and Jason played roles in Temora's historic hat-trick of premierships from 2012 to 2014.

It broke a drought that had lasted half-a-century, dating back to Malcolm's own success as coach in 1960.

"It meant the world to him. He was extremely proud and happy with that (2012 breakthrough). He was always frustrated and sick of being the last one who coached and played in the premiership for the town," Dan Reid said.

The boys hold fond memories of their grandfather's passion for farming, fox-shooting, and the trots, as well as his love of the footy club, even long after he'd left the formal roles to others.

"Mal and his wife Barbara would always be at our away games, or be at their spot at Nixon Park for home games. He'd come into the rooms after games, and was always around the footy club," Dan said.

"He always had an opinion on what we should and shouldn't be doing and how blokes should be going."

Dan's fondest memory is learning the regard his grandfather was held in.

"I'd run into blokes of his generation and once they knew my last name, they'd ask if I was Nugget's grandson and talk about how he was a very outstanding cricketer and footballer," he said.

Malcolm Reid was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2002 for his services to sport, particularly Australian rules.

"He was competitive," Firman said with a laugh. "But he had incredible sportsmanship... he was just friendly with everybody."

He was a superb tennis player, as well as an O'Farrell Cup cricketer. He received outstanding lifetime achievement awards from the Temora shire and from AFL Riverina.

He also played for Marrar in his youth and for Coolamon. In fact, Dan says, his grandfather famously coached Temora one season, from the boundary, while playing at Coolamon, who wouldn't release him home.

Firman was sitting with Reid for the 2012 grand final and witnessed 'this tough hombre' overwhelmed with pride and devotion to the Kangaroos as they ended 52 years of disappointment.

The next two flags added to the pride, particularly with Dan and then Jason following Adam in becoming premiership players at Temora.

"Even when Jason went to Marrar (in 2016), he was a little bit disappointed but he also used to go and watch him play for Marrar and he was happy for him playing in those premierships (2017 and 2018)," Dan said.

"He obviously beat us in one (Marrar beat Temora by four points in 2017) which was annoying but he was always just happy to support his grandsons."

Firman said the football club was Reid's escape from his work "as an outstanding, top-notch farmer".

The mayor recalled having to convince 'Nugget' he could take on the Kangaroos' presidency.

"He'd been deputy for several years and he said, oh mate, I'm no good at speeches and all the rest. I said, 'Malcolm, that's crap. You love this club. It is in your veins. Your father was involved and now you've done everything else in this club. So you can do it if you want to do it.'

"And you know what? He stepped up, he did it and he did a top job. He's done everything a man could for the club. He used to tell me, quietly, that the money he'd put into that club he could've gone around the world a dozen times. That was only quietly. He wouldn't say that to the world. He just did it for his love and affection for the place.

"You know when we have someone very special when you hear their name and they warm your heart.

"And I've never heard an ill or nasty word said about that man. To me, that speaks volumes of the man we know and love and respect."

The funeral for Malcolm 'Nugget' Reid will be held next Thursday at Temora cemetery.