USACUA Umpire Hammy Reid To Be Inducted In USA Cricket Hall Of Fame

Umpire Hammy Reid

United States of America Cricket Umpires Association (USACUA) member Hammy Reid will be inducted into the United States of America Cricket Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 22, 2007. Umpire Reid will be the second USACUA umpire to be given this prestigious honor, following the induction of Lloyd Scott in 2006.

Umpire Reid is one of the longest serving members of the USACUA and has represented the USA at International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions in the USA and other countries.

Hammy Reid was born on May 17, 1941 in the parish of St. Thomas, Barbados, West Indies, where like most children at that time, he played and learned the basics of the game of cricket in the local back streets. In 1961 Hammy, as he is familiarly called, migrated to England and worked for London Transport at the Catford Bus Depot, where he joined the local cricket team, participating as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper. He got married in 1964, and together with his wife Atol are the proud parents of three children, Sonia, Stephen and Shaun, as well as the grandparents of Andrew, Daniel and Renee.

The recipient of a City & Guilds of London certificate in Radio and Television Engineering in 1978, Hammy migrated to the USA in 1981 and worked for the New York City Transit Authority for twenty-five years, retiring earlier this year. Immediately after arriving in the USA, he joined Somerset Sports Club where he continued as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper. In 1985 Hammy attended umpiring seminars and started umpiring in the American Cricket League. He was selected in 1989 to officiate in a promotional game at the Memorial Stadium in New York (WI vs. India) with the late David Archer (WI & B’dos umpire). The USACUA was formed in 1992 and Hammy immediately jumped on board. In that same year, he officiated with Test Umpire Clyde Cumberbatch (WI & T&T umpire) in another promotional game (WI vs. India) at Downing Stadium, in New York.

Hammy Reid was made an honorary member of Unity Sports and Cultural Association of Boston, Massachusetts in 1994. In 1997, he sat and passed the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association Certifying Final Written, Oral and Practical examinations. In that same year he was selected as a USA representative umpire to officiate at an ICC Trophy Tournament in Malaysia. He was selected again in 2001 as a USA umpire at the ICC trophy tournament in Toronto, Canada. In 2002, Hammy officiated at the Second Americas Cricket Championships held in Argentina, and also at the ICC Americas Under-15 championships held at Disney World of Sports in Florida. In 2003 and 2004, Hammy officiated at the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) Regional Finals held in Houston and Dallas, Texas, respectfully. Currently, he is the longest serving USACUA cricket umpire at the ICC level in USA and has held the position of ICC match umpire for seven years. He continues to diligently serve cricket in the USA, and on July 9, 2006 he officiated in the West Indies XI vs. USA Select XI match at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY.

Earlier this year, umpire Reid was instrumental in establishing a permanent base in Hartford, Connecticut for recruitment and training of umpires in that region of the USA. To-date, Hammy continues to share his vast knowledge of the game with others by conducting free umpiring seminars across the USA, in such states as Florida, Massachusetts, Georgia, Washington and Connecticut.

A deserving candidate for induction into the United States of America Cricket Hall of Fame, Umpire Reid was asked what plans he has going forward, to which he replied, “With God’s help and permission I will continue to do what I can for the improvement of cricket and cricket umpiring in the USA.”