University News
Hermann Celebration of Life Set
January 17, 2018
MACOMB, IL -- A celebration of life for Western Illinois University Men's Physical Education (now called kinesiology) Department Chair Emeritus George Hermann will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Wesley Community Center, 1200 E. Grant St., Macomb. Hermann, 98, passed away Jan. 14 in Macomb.
Hermann joined the faculty at Western in 1967. He served as a teacher and graduate coordinator of the College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and was named chair of the Men's Physical Education Department in 1979. Hermann retired from WIU in 1986.
At WIU, he was instrumental in developing the sport management program in 1972. Today, Western's sport management program is one of the oldest, and most established, in the United States. He served as president of the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (IAHPER) and was recognized by the IAHPER with the prestigious Honor Fellow Award. Hermann served on the Board of Directors for the Midwest District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and served as chair of the historical records committee for the National College Physical Education Association for Men. In 1982, Herman was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to lead a delegation of five U.S. representatives to the Fifth Session of Educationists at the International Olympic Academy in Greece.
Hermann founded the Western Illinois Senior Olympics in Fall 1980, organized the first regional games in Spring 1981 and served as the state coordinator for the Illinois Regional Senior Olympics for 23 years. He also participated in the Western Illinois Senior Olympics, held on the WIU-Macomb campus, and Hermann set, and held, two records in the Illinois State Senior Olympics for many years. For his contributions to Senior Olympics, then-Mayor Mick Wisslead proclaimed April 30, 2005 George Hermann Day in Macomb.
Following his retirement from WIU, he taught a graduate course in sports management for the U.S. Sports Academy in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia.
Hermann was a successful coach, and his last official coaching position was at Northeast Missouri State University (now known as Truman State University), leading his cross country team to a second place finish and an individual title in the 1964 NCAA meet. Honoring his coaching leadership and cross country team, they were inducted into the Truman State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
In the Macomb community, he served as a member of the executive board for Habitat for Humanity and was a former president of the Macomb Kiwanis Club. He established a graduate scholarship in kinesiology for WIU sport management majors in 2014.
George was an avid sports fan, who enjoyed rooting for the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and the WIU Leathernecks. He enjoyed exercising well into his 90s including jogging, walking and riding his tricycle.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Lakie-Hermann, one daughter, Jan Wiehardt, one brother Edgar, granddaughter Kirsten Clerkin, two great-grandsons, George Patrick Clerkin and John Joseph Clerkin, step-daughters Susan Lakie, Patty Lakie and Ann Lakie, and step-grandchildren Melanie Gonzalez, Timothy Peterson, Andrew Peterson and Sarah Peterson.
The complete obituary and guest book can be found at www.dodsworthfh.com
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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