Farewell Dave Reynolds

Hall of Famer Hangs Up the Typewriter

(St. Louis, MO) – Hall-of-fame sportswriter Dave Reynolds has retired. This highly decorated and well-respected man will be greatly missed in the Missouri Valley Conference circles. He is distinctly professional, but his reputation as a true friend to many, far outweighs his awards and professional honors.

For 38 years Mr. Reynolds worked for the Peoria-Journal star and for the past 30 he has been the beat-writer for the Bradley Braves. His Honors include being a three-time winner of the NSSA Illinois Sportswriter of the Year award. He is a member of the IBCA Hall of Fame and possesses several writing awards from AP, IPA and the Iowa Press Association.

If you know anything about Bradley basketball, you probably learned it from Dave Reynolds and play-by-play announcer Dave Snell. Those two are as synonymous as Carver Arena, Hersey Hawkins and ‘the Hilltop’.

Dave has filed his final Braves’ game recap, but this legendary writer is known and respected, by-his peers for more than just well-written stories, or factual accounts or scoop breaking material. His humble and friendly character has left an imprint on those of us fortunate enough to work near him.

Caring in a Crisis

Broadcaster Dave Snell (@DaveSnellKaboom) is a huge Dave Reynolds fan and they are long time friends. He watched Reynolds during a crisis moment in the life of fellow PJS writer Dick Lien. Snell says Bradley was in New Orleans when tragedy struck and Reynolds rose to the occasion. Snell’s admiration for Reynolds was secured that day.

 

 

The two Daves were racquet ball partners on many road trips and says that Reynolds was tremendously professional and a genuinely warm individual and that he’ll miss him on this season’s Bradley road trips.

 

 

Friend to Many

Todd Hefferman (@THefferman) has worked for “The Southern” newspaper covering the Carbondale area for the past 17 years. He says Dave Reynolds is a wealth of knowledge and very inviting. When Hefferman came on the scene Reynolds was inviting and became a resource to the younger writer.

The two writers would make it a point to get a meal together prior to games between Bradley and Southern Illinois. Hefferman, who also writes the preseason evaluations of Valley teams for “Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook” knows he will miss special opportunities to see Reynolds.

 

 

Hefferman speaks glowingly all the other Valley beat writers. Speaking about Reynolds, he says he has learned a lot about his own craft by reading Dave’s work and listening to his press room questions.

 

 

Another Rookie Feels the Warmth

Wyatt Wheeler (@WyattWheeler_NL) might be the youngest Valley beat writer but he has great admiration for the retiring Reynolds. The “Springfield News Leader” reporter learned about Dave’s welcoming ways in a first-hand, personal way.

“The word that keeps coming up in my head regarding Dave Reynolds is the word ‘kind.’” 

“I was a 22-year-old kid coming into my first year as the full-time beat reporter. It was a dark time in my life as far as mental health and there was a ton of pressure on me as a one-man sports department in a tense basketball season that ultimately ended in Paul Lusk’s dismissal.”

“Dave immediately made me feel like I belonged in the media room with everyone else.” 

“Dave Reynolds was one of the legendary writers to me growing up. I was an MVC fan as a kid living in Normal, Illinois, reading the likes of Jim Benson and Dave Reynolds (I’m sure they’ll love how young I’m making them feel).” 

“To be immediately accepted and welcomed by Dave from the first MVC Preseason Media Day was something I’ll always be thankful for. His kindness from that first day and then talking to him at games and the conference tournament was something he didn’t have to do for a goofy young kid, but he did it just because that’s who he is.” 

“He is a pillar of professionalism. It’s something I always admired in the way that he went about his work and even through the controversy that surrounded him before the 2019 NCAA Tournament.” 

“He’s someone I look up to and is someone I’m extremely thankful that I was able to get to know him these last few years. I’m happy that he’s able to get out of this business on his own terms, but it’s a loss for Bradley fans and Valley fans everywhere. We will miss him.”

Personal Experience

Like Hefferman and Wheeler when I first arrived on the Valley scene, I pursued Dave Reynolds. I interviewed him on radio shows, read his material and listened intently to what he said. When I was asked by a national website to write game recaps, since I was a trained broadcaster, but a novice writer, I sought out Dave Reynolds. The hall-of-famer gave me some pointers, encouraged me that I would do a good job and helped me grind my through my first recap.

When I was asked about the style I employed by the web-editor, I calmly said ‘I used the hall-of-famer Dave Reynolds style.’

The Changing Business

In Reynolds’ own words, he accepted a buyout to retire. The print industry is undergoing a difficult transition. Newspapers are shutting down, budget cuts are everywhere. While we’re glad Dave could leave on his own terms, we know times are changing.

Missouri Valley Associate Commissioner Mike Kern says when that industry changes it also affects relationships and the joys of the job. Since Dave Reynolds has retired, the Valley has lost a great friend and resource.

 

 

Hefferman adds that his paper has worked hard to maintain high standards in sports reporting, but sadly Dave’s retirement is a sign of the times.

 

 

Kern adds that Reynolds was willing to do the grunt work during more difficult times and he knew how to write about the Braves during both the good and bad times.

 

 

Handling National Pressure With Grace

During the 2019 season Reynolds found himself at the center of a national sports story. Bradley won the Arch Madness title and was heading to the NCAA Tournament. Just then Reynolds found himself outside of the good graces of head coach Brian Wardle. For the more private-minded Reynolds, this was not his choice.

“Sports Illustrated” said the issue was over access to the team.

Reynolds was told “he was not allowed to conduct any interviews as the University had a policy in place that prevented him from receiving “extra coverage opportunity,” according to the Journal Star.”

He was also told he didn’t promote the ‘Bradley Brand’. The dust up was settled relatively quickly and coach Wardle and Mr. Reynolds have cleared the air. It was his handling of that situation that received rave reviews from his peers.

Kern says in the midst of that controversy, the word that comes to mind is ‘honorable.’

 

 

Dave Reynolds Has Retired

Dave isn’t gone. He just gets to spend more time with his wife Linda and skip writing deadlines. He promises to show up at Arch Madnes and Kern has promised to save him a seat.

We will miss his writing wisdom, his kindness in the press box and his memory of all things Bradley. This valuable friend, mentor, writer and gentleman will be missed.

Hefferman says he learns the best places to eat in each Valley town from Reynolds too.

Snell says the chronicling of people and events will be sorely missed, but it is the man himself, will be what is truly missed. His stories will last a long time, but his impact and kindness will last even longer.

 

 

For the past 30 years coaches, players and seasons of success and failure come and go. During those 30 years Bradley basketball has been brought to us by Snell and Reynolds. Although Dave Reynolds has retired, I hope someone has the good sense to get Dave to write a book about Bradley basketball. I’ll buy the first copy.

We wish you best in retirement Mr. Reynolds. You taught us well.

Do Good

 

 

 

You can send a life-saving gift during this Christmas Season. West African refugees are being displaced by the thousands. Click here to learn more and to give.