Richard E. Shreve
March 6, 1930 - March 25, 2010

Richard E. “Scooter” Shreve passed away Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Cabell Huntington Hospital. He was born March 6, 1930 a son of the late Donald C. and Gladys I. Shreve, in Plymouth, Indiana. He had one sister, Joan E. (Shreve) Whitcomb who also preceded him in death. The family was exceptionally close and he thoroughly respected and adored them. He is survived by his wonderful wife, Marilyn (Smith) Shreve. They were married for over 56 years and he was always very proud of her. He also leaves behind three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews plus several great nieces and nephews. He was fortunate to acquire many close friends, particularly those involved in athletics and education and many other friends throughout the nation. Scooter attended elementary and high school in Bunker Hill, Indiana where his burial will take place. He was considered a good student and excelled in four sports as a varsity player. These sports were: basketball, baseball, track and volleyball. In 1948 he received the Outstanding Athlete Award at his graduation ceremony. He also had a very unique experience in his first grade of school. The high school concert band needed another snare drummer and since he had been taking drum lessons for a year he was asked to join them. He did so and continued to play with the high school band for all 12 years. He entered Ball State Teachers College (now Ball State University) in 1949 where he carried two comprehensive areas of study, social science and physical education and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Upon college graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and served 4 years on active duty in its Security Service and 4 years reserve. During his active duty years he received five Letters of Commendation from his superior officers. In 1953 he married his wife, Marilyn, and during his service years they lived in Texas, Florida, Illinois and Alaska. He was Honorably Discharged and returned to his home town in 1956 where he taught school and coached basketball and baseball. He later joined the insurance industry in Denver, Colorado and in 1962 he was transferred as Surety Superintendant to the company’s regional office in Fresno, California. In 1966 he joined an insurance agency/brokerage firm as a partner and when it was incorporated he became President and CEO until he retired in that business in 1986. During his 24 years living in Fresno he became very active in Fresno State University athletics as a volunteer. He was the Director of their annual basketball tournament (called Sun Met) for six years and was honored by receiving “The Bulldog Award” in 1985. He was a Trustee in The Bulldog Foundation and President of The Bulldog Dugout Club. He served on the Steering Committee for their new baseball stadium and at the dedication ceremony was honored by throwing out “The First Pitch” in 1983. He was also an active participant in the construction of the new football stadium. In addition, he volunteered considerable time to the Fresno community and his church, First Baptist Church of Fresno and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees he organized and supervised the exterior painting of its buildings which covered most of a city block. He and several of his church friends painted several other churches and a church camp in the area. He coached the church basketball team to a city championship in 1978. He and Marilyn offered board and room for many college students during their years in Fresno at no charge to the students. In 1986 “Scooter” accepted the position as Executive Director of The Big Green Scholarship Foundation at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, a position he held until his retirement in 1995. During that time he was responsible for over tripling the fundraising for that organization. He wrote a new set of By-Laws, formalized 7 satellite clubs, transferred donation records to computer, served as coordinator for the construction of a new men’s Basketball team locker- room in Cam Henderson Center and had an active role in the design and construction of the new football stadium (known now as Joan C. Edwards Stadium). He served as a guide for many of “The Marshall Faithful” and visitors touring the stadium at various stages of construction. He also administered the athletic department “Courtesy Car Program.” He organized many fundraising golf outings for The Big Green Club (“LAMAC”) to the new stadium. He started a quarterly news letter entitled “Word from The Herd” which was distributed to Big Green members and others. Upon “Scooter’s” retirement the university created an Athletic Trainer’s Scholarship in his honor and was granted Emeritus status. After retirement “Scooter” was asked to return for short periods of time. During these periods he served in the athletic ticket office, supervised a small crew to pressure wash and weatherize the football stadium, re-number certain seating sections, arrange the sale of groups of tickets for men’s basketball and organize one Athletic Department Appreciation golf outing. During his lifetime he was a member of several civic organizations which included being a member of the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. He also served as construction coordinator for a $2,500,000 renovation project for his church in which a room was dedicated in his honor. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a Tennessee Squire. Services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 28, 2010 at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church by Dr. Allen Reasons and Rev. Hubert Harvey. Friends may call Sunday, 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church. Klingel-Carpenter Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Donations in his honor may be sent to: Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. P.O. Box 1056, Huntington, WV 25701 or the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1360, Huntington, WV 25715. Additional services will be held 1:00 p.m.,Tuesday at First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, Indiana. Interment will follow in Spring Dale Cemetery.