Scott Cummings, 52, of Lebanon, Ill., and formerly Bayonne, N.J., passed away at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at Memorial East Hospital in Shiloh, Ill. following an 18 month battle with cancer.
He was born on January 31, 1968 in Bayonne, the son of the late Robert and Irene Cummings.
Scott is survived by his wife of 28 years Paula, and children Hailey (Jeffrey) Edison of Lebanon and Ryan Cummings of Louisville; two brothers-in-law: Scott Bealer and Greg Bealer; his mother-in-law, Janet Bealer; as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and many dear friends.
He was a well-respected member of the college athletics communications industry for the past 31 years. Scott spent the past 22 years as the Sports Information Director (SID) at McKendree University in Lebanon, and also had an nine-year stint as the SID at his alma mater Union College in Barbourville, Ky.
He served as the Gateway Grizzlies’ official scorer since 2012, and was the second-longest-tenured member of the Grizzlies’ press box staff.
Scott also served as the Mid-South Conference Football Information Director (1993-99), NAIA Region V Information Director (1999-2000), Mid-South Conference Baseball/Softball Information Director (1998-99), American Midwest Conference Sports Information Director (2005-11) and basketball public address announcer at Washington University in St. Louis (2012-19).
Prior to the postponement of the 2020 NCAA Division II football season, Scott had worked 295 football games in a row, dating back more than a quarter-century to his days at Union. He served as media coordinator for multiple NAIA National Championships, including men’s basketball (1999-2011), outdoor track and field (2008, 2009), women’s golf (2000) and wrestling (2000).
In 2004, Scott orchestrated local, regional, and national media covering McKendree men’s basketball coach Harry Statham in the lead-up to Statham’s 880th career win, which pushed him past famed North Carolina coach Dean Smith for the all-time college basketball record. He received the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award in 2005, the highest honor that can be given to an SID at the NAIA level, and was recognized in 2020 with the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) 25-Year Award for his long-time commitment and service to the athletic communications profession. Scott was a winner of 57 NAIA-SIDA Publication Contest Awards, including 10 first-place awards, and is a two-time Mid-South Conference Sports Information Director of the Year (1996-97, 1997-98).
Scott was a member of First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Ill., and was president of NAIA Sports Information Directors from 2003-05. He was also a member of CoSIDA and NAIA-SIDA for 30 years.
An avid New York Yankees, New York Giants and New Jersey Devils fan, Scott enjoyed spending time with his family and supporting his children while playing sports. Some of his favorite memories include getting to work with children – Hailey at the scorer’s table at McKendree and Ryan at McKendree and Gateway Grizzlies games.
He graduated from Bayonne High School in 1986 and Union in 1991.
In addition to his beloved parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers (Greg, Robert, Wayne) and his father-in-law Raymond Bealer.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2021.Read Less
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