Nick Nichols, St. Louis Port Leader, Dies

Nick Nichols, 83, of O’Fallon, Ill., operations manager for the St. Louis Port Authority, died of a heart attack April 9.

Nichols retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force after 24 years in 1982, and went to work the next year for the St. Louis Development Corporation, parent organization of the port authority.

Otis Wilson, executive director of the St. Louis Development Association, said that Nichols “was a dedicated member of our team at SLDC for over 36 years. He was proud of the work we do here, and most proud of the many expansions of the St. Louis Port Authority. We are extremely sad about his passing.”

In his position with the port, Nichols oversaw operations for the city’s side of the third largest inland port in the United States. He was most recently coordinating the docking of five cruise vessels, due to make 24 visits to the levee in front of the Arch over the next few months.  

Susan Taylor, director of port development, called Nichols a valuable member of the organization. “But what I will miss most is the way he treated people,” she said. Nick always had a kind word and a smile for everybody. He touched many people here at SLDC and he will be greatly missed.”

Memorial donations may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation.