Richard Lowell Hummel, died peacefully of a brief illness on May 20, 2023. Rick was born February 25, 1946 in Quincy, Illinois to Hobart and Geraldine (nee Duiser) Hummel.
He is survived by his wife Melissa Thayer Hummel and his children, Scott Lowell (Ellen) Hummel, Lauren Rose (Tyler) Nevitt and Christy (Corey) Noland. Stepfather of Camilla (Brennen) Grone. Grandfather of Alex Hummel, Natalie Hummel, Alden Grone, Thomas Grone and Mary Ellen Grone. Dear son-in-law of Camilla Shapleigh. Brother-in-law of Holly (Charles) Eggert, John (Anne) Shapleigh, Katharine Shapleigh and Louise Shapleigh. Dear uncle, cousin and friend of many.
Rick completed his undergraduate at Quincy College (University) and later achieved his Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
He served in the Army during the Vietnam war in Germany as a newspaper writer. Rick enjoyed a long and rich career as a sportswriter for the Post Dispatch, specializing in Cardinal baseball as a beat writer, for 51 years. He was awarded the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Cardinal Baseball Hall of Fame awards, and served as President of the Baseball Writers Association for a term during his career.
Friends, coworkers and family have described him as loyal, trustworthy, kind, gifted, humble, devoted, and a true mentor. His hobbies included baseball statistics (hence his nickname “the Commish”), bowling, and he enjoyed the 123 Club.
A private memorial service will be held later this summer to honor his life. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Rick Hummel Scholarship, c/o St. Louis Chapter Baseball Writer's Association, Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 605, St. Louis MO 63118. As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.
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