Richard "Dick" Hammer

Upon graduation from Manheim Central in 1952, where he wrestled for the Barons, Dick entered Franklin and Marshall College. After two years at Franklin and Marshal, he transferred to Temple where he received his BS in Communications. In August of 1957, he became the Sports Director for WEST Radio in Easton and became the play-by-play man for Easton, Nazareth and Wilson football and basketball. In 1967, he left the Easton area to become a Sports reporter for NBC News and Weekend Sports anchor on WKYC­TV. One of his interviews was for the Today Show when he interviewed then Cleveland Indians Manager, Frank Robinson. He covered the Ohio State High School Wrestling Tournaments until he returned to WEST radio in September of 1977. It was in September of 1977 that Dick became the voice of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley. For the next thirty years, he broadcast wrestling matches for Easton, Wilson and Nazareth High Schools. He traveled across the river and did Phillipsburg H.S. matches under then coach Thad Turner. From 1977 until the station was sold earlier this year, Dick would broadcast 20 dual meets each year as well as the 2-A and 3-A District, Regional and State Tournaments in Pennsylvania. In 2006, Dick became only the second inductee that was not a player, coach or administrator at Lafayette College to be inducted into their famed Maroon Club Hall of Fame. He has been a positive influence on high school and college wrestling through his broadcasting for the past forty plus years.

Awards:

Year
2008
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
Pennsylvania

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