Roy and Gail Hummel Athletic Scholarship Endowment Reaches 800K
3/1/2004 12:00:00 PM | Athletics
March 1, 2004
Toledo, OH - The University of Toledo today announced that the Roy and Gail Hummel Athletic Scholarship Fund, which recently became endowed through the generosity of Roy and Gail Hummel, has now reached a value of more than $800,000. The Roy and Gail Hummel Athletic Scholarship Fund is awarded annually to men's and women's senior student-athlete with highest grade point average.
Prior to his death in December of 2001, Roy Hummel helped fund basketball scholarships through annual gifts to the University totalling $90,000. Upon his death, the majority of his estate was bequethed to UT in order to create a permanent endowment for the scholarships. His wife, Gail Hummel, died in 1998.
"Roy Hummel was a true Rocket who bled blue and gold," said UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien. "The depth of his love and support for UT Athletics will live on in the generous endowment from Roy and Gail. Countless UT men's and women's basketball players will benefit from this scholarship fund for years to come."
Hummel's nephew, Chuck Breese, who is serving as executor of the Hummel estate, recently announced that the sum of the assets from his uncle's estate has reached $675,000, bringing the total value of the scholarship endowment to over $800,000.
"Everyone in our family knows how much the University of Toledo meant to Roy," said Breese. "He used to take me to Toledo football and basketball games when I was a boy in the late 30's so I know how much UT meant to him."
Hummel lettered in basketball in 1933, but is known mostly for his five decades of service to UT, having served as the Varsity 'T' Club secretary from 1948 to 1997. He also served as the Hole-in-One Tournament Committee for more than 40 years, helping to raise millions of dollars from that event. He was a charter member of the Tower Club and the Rocket Club, and was the leading alumni football season-ticket seller for over 20 years.
Hummel received the Blue "T" Award for outstanding service to the University in 1966, and in 1989 the Varsity 'T' Club established the Hummel-Allen Award, given annually to UT's top senior athlete in honor of Hummel and former UT trackster John Allen.
Upon his induction into the University of Toledo Varsity 'T' Hall of Fame in 1991, Hummel said, "I have a philosophy. When someone does something good for me, I try to repay it the best that I can. I've made hundreds of friends, and my time at Toledo has been a great experience. I enjoy the University so much. It's been a big part of my life."
