Dave Humphrey, a radio host known for anchoring the news on WCBM-AM in the 1970s and early 1980s who later served in Maryland government, died of amyloidosis Thursday at Hilton Head Regional Hospital in South Carolina. The former Ruxton resident was 80.
Before his 2012 retirement, Mr. Humphrey was a presence on Baltimore radio for 25 years. He had been news anchor for “The Lee Case Show” and was executive director of WCBM’s Baltimore Colts football broadcasts from 1970 to 1984.
Born Albert Davis Humphrey Jr., in Savannah, Georgia, he was the son of A.D. “Jack” Humphrey and Marie Badenhoop Humphrey. His father was an executive with the Central of Georgia Railway, and his mother was a buyer for Adler’s department stores.
He was a 1961 graduate of Savannah High School, where he was a photographer for the school’s annual, The Blue Jacket. He then attended Armstrong Junior College.
Mr. Humphrey’s early career in radio began in Savannah at stations WSGA, WBYG and WSAV. He created his broadcast name Dave Humphrey based on his middle name.
In 1965 he moved from Savannah to work for top-40 WEAM and all-news WAVA, both in Arlington, Virginia, before starting at WCBM-AM in 1968 in Baltimore.
He anchored “The Lee Case Show,” a staple of Baltimore morning drive-time radio, and directed Colts broadcasts from 1970 until 1984, when the team left for Indianapolis.
Joan Doniger, a WCBM colleague said: “Dave was smart and funny. He knew how to project with that deep, resonant voice.”
“Dave was one of the great voices in Baltimore radio,” said Ron Matz, a longtime radio colleague and competitor on WFBR. “When you heard Dave on the air, your ears perked up. He had a natural radio voice. He wanted to be first and get it right.”
Mr. Humphrey also hosted “Coaches’ Corner,” a show that featured pregame conversations in the 30 minutes before kickoff with Colts coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Joe Thomas, Ted Marchibroda, Mike McCormack and Frank Kush.
He also hosted the “Braase, Donovan and Fans” broadcast Monday evenings from the Flaming Pit restaurant in Timonium, and he later presented “Unitas and Fans” from the Golden Arm Restaurant in Towson during the football season.
While at the Flaming Pit, but not during the football season, he met his future wife, Candace “Candi” E. Blackshire. After meeting and talking long into the evening, they had an early breakfast at the Towson Diner. They married in 1979.
When WCBM transitioned to satellite music, Mr. Humphrey joined Baltimore’s easy-listening WLIF in 1985 as its news director and remained at the post for seven years.
“Dave was the authoritative voice of news for many years for thousands in the Baltimore area,” said Mark Miller, a former reporter and news director for WBAL Radio. “He was one of the leaders in the WCBM newsroom, especially during its news-talk days in the early to mid-’80s.
“He was a fierce, but friendly, competitor. He was an old-school newsman who understood the need to get it first, but also to get it right. As a newbie reporter, he was a role model and someone who many of us aspired to emulate,” Mr. Miller said. “He had three real loves in life: broadcast journalism, the Colts, and of course, his wife and life partner, Candi.”
Mr. Humphrey served on the board and was a past president of the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
In 1993 Mr. Humphrey was asked by then-Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer to join the Maryland Department of General Services as a public relations and communications director.
He later served Govs. Parris Glendening, Robert Ehrlich and Martin O’Malley during his 18-year state government career.
“Dave was very smart, a consummate professional, low-key and measured,” said Michele Griffin, former assistant secretary of the Department of General Services. “He had keen political instincts and assessments.”
Mr. Humphrey is survived by his wife of 44 years, Candace “Candi” E. Humphrey.
Burial will be at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.