McKendree University Athletics

Cummings served as McKendree's Sports Information Director for 22 years (1999-2020) and was also the voice of Bearcat Athletics. He passed away on December 3, 2020 following an 18-month battle with cancer.

For more than 20 years, Cummings was the ultimate servant, often spending 70-80 hours per week strictly focusing on promoting Bearcat student-athletes. He was a mentor to many and a friend to all. Cummings had "can-do" attitude, willingness and desire to put others first.

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. 

He 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). 

Cummings was president of NAIA Sports Information Directors from 2003-05, and was also a member of CoSIDA and NAIA-SIDA for 30 years. 

He concluded his career working 295 consecutive college football games, dating back more than a quarter-century to his days at Union (Ky.), and served as media coordinator for 17 NAIA National Championships.

In 2004, Cummings orchestrated local, regional, and national media covering 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 is survived by his wife Paula and children Hailey Edison (Jeffrey) and Ryan.