Obituary of Albert Davis Humphrey, Jr.

 

Dave Humphrey, 80, best known for anchoring the news on Baltimore’s WCBM radio during the 70s and early 80s, has died on Hilton Head Island, SC. Before retiring to “the Island” in 2012, Mr. Humphrey enjoyed an almost 25-year broadcasting career in Baltimore, MD. In retirement, he was a member of the Hilton Head Shipyard Property Owners’ Association Board of Directors, serving on the Executive Committee, the Financial Planning Committee, and the Marketing Committee.

 

Mr. Humphrey moved from his native Savannah, GA, in 1965 to work for radio stations top-40 WEAM and all-news WAVA, both in Arlington, VA. In 1968 Humphrey became WCBM radio’s morning news anchor during the highly popular “Lee Case Show” and was executive director of the station’s Baltimore Colts football broadcasts from 1970 until 1984, when the Colts departed for Indianapolis. His “Coaches’ Corner” show featured pre-game conversations in the 30 minutes before kickoff with Colts head coaches Howard Schnellenburger, Joe Thomas, Ted Marchibroda, Mike McCormick, and Frank Kush. Humphrey hosted the “Braase, Donovan and Fans” broadcast on Monday evenings from the Flaming Pit restaurant in Timonium, and he later presented “Unitas and Fans” from the Baby Doe and Golden Arm restaurants in Towson during the professional football season.

 

When WCBM transitioned to satellite music, Mr. Humphrey joined Baltimore’s easy listening WLIF in 1985 as its news director, a position he held for seven years. During his WLIF tenure Humphrey served on the board and was president of the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association. In 1993 Humphrey was asked by then Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer to join the Maryland Department of General Services as a public relations/communications director. He subsequently served four Maryland governors – including Schaefer, Parris Glendening, Robert Ehrlich, and Martin O’Malley – during his 18-year state government career.

 

Albert Davis Humphrey, Jr., was born on November 27, 1943, in Savannah, GA, to A. D. (Jack) and Marie Badenhoop Humphrey. His father was an executive with the Central of Georgia Railway and his mother was a buyer for Adler’s—once Georgia’s largest department store—located at Bull and Broughton streets in Savannah. In 1961 Humphrey graduated from Savannah High School where he was a photographer for the school’s annual, The Blue Jacket. He then attended Armstrong Junior College. Humphrey’s early career in radio began locally at Savannah stations WSGA, WBYG, and WSAV.

 

Mr. Humphrey is survived by Candace E. Humphrey, his loving wife of 44 years and by his “best girl” Lola. Humphrey will be buried in the historic Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.