Ray Hartmann was a mainstay in St. Louis media for decades before running for Congress in 2024.
Hartmann, the founder of the Riverfront Times and St. Louis Magazine and co-founder of the KETC politics show “Donnybrook”, was killed in a crash on Thursday caused by a semitruck tire on Interstate 64. Hartmann was 73.
In a statement to 5 On Your Side, Hartmann’s wife, Kerri, said, “It’s such a tragic loss. He was dearly loved. We’re going to miss him so much.”
Colleagues remember Hartmann’s impact
“He launched this program, this weekly roundtable discussion show, which is still on the air today. That’s a tremendous legacy,” said Charlie Brennan, a longtime friend and Donnybrook host. “And he wasn’t even a broadcaster. He was a great writer. A publisher of an alternative newspaper that skewered the powerful, called the Riverfront Times. And then, of course, he was the publisher of St. Louis Magazine. He did so many great things.”
Brennan and fellow panelist Alvin Reid said Hartmann brought intensity, preparation, and perspective to every discussion, while maintaining deep respect for those around him.
“He could disagree with you, but he was always your friend,” Brennan said.
Reid said Hartmann was driven by purpose.
“Ray was determined to make a difference in St. Louis. He wanted to make a difference on every show,” Reid said.
And in the end, Reid said Hartmann’s influence won’t fade.
“As long as we do this show, Ray will be a part of this show and a part of St. Louis.”
Hartmann’s colleagues said he was a proud husband and father of two children.
Brennan said, “First and foremost, he was a great father to his kids.”
“I’m already missing him,” said Reid. “I really do feel like I’m talking about Ray in the present. I can’t believe I’m talking about Ray in the past. That hasn’t really hit me yet.”
A career that reshaped local journalism
Colleagues said his work challenged powerful institutions and helped reshape how journalism was done in the region.
“He created a model that was followed around the country by other newspapers. He was unique and just a genius when it came to publishing a publication,” Reid said.
His reach expanded beyond print starting in 1987 on the Nine PBS political commentary show “Donnybrook,” which he co-founded. He was a mainstay on the show for nearly 40 years.
He joined KTRS in 2019, where he hosted “St. Louis In The Know With Ray Hartmann.”
In 2024, he stepped away from media and Donnybrook to run for Congress in Missouri’s 2nd District, winning the Democratic primary before losing to incumbent Ann Wagner.
Crash details
“Raymond Phillip Hartmann died yesterday around 2 p.m. as the result of a motor vehicle accident on Route 64 near 270. The news covered the accident last night, and I can confirm that Ray was in his car when a tire crashed through his windshield. We believe that he died at the scene. His wife, Kerri Hartmann, and I were at Mercy Hospital when the doctors explained that he did not respond to their efforts. We’d like to thank the police officers who came to the scene and the doctors and staff at Mercy Hospital, who were informative and kind. Ray is survived by Kerri, his son Ben, and daughter Brielle, who are on their way home from college. The family asks you to respect their privacy at this time.”
Officials said the crash happened in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 near the Interstate 270 exit and involved a tractor-trailer and Hartmann’s vehicle.
Investigators said two tires came off a towed unit attached to the truck, struck the median, and became airborne before striking Hartmann’s car. Leonard told 5 On Your Side that a tire crashed through Hartmann’s windshield.
He was pronounced dead a short time later. The truck driver remained at the scene.
The man behind the voice
Friends said Hartmann’s values showed just as clearly off camera.
Brennan recalled that when Hartmann got married, he didn’t accept gifts, instead asking guests to donate to two nonprofit organizations, including Paraquad, which supports people with disabilities.
It’s a detail those closest to him said captures exactly who he was. The kind of choice that said everything about the man behind the voice.
“His departure was too soon. I think he had books to write, columns to write, causes to champion, and I’m very sorry that he’s not going to be around to get to those,” said Brennan.
A journalist who challenged power. A voice that sparked conversation.
And a presence, those who knew him said, St. Louis won’t soon forget.
“He was a great journalist, a great philanthropist, and a great friend of St. Louis,” Reid said.
Nine PBS plans to air a special extended episode of Donnybrook on Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m., to commemorate and honor Hartmann’s life and legacy.
