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Robert Ringen Hermann, Sr. was born January 3, 1923 to parents Frederick A. and Evelyn Ringen Hermann. He was raised in Clayton, Missouri and was educated at St. Louis Country Day School (later merged to form [[Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School|MICDS]]).<ref name="princeton">{{cite web|title=Princeton in the News|url=https://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/99/c/1222.htm|website=princeton|accessdate=October 8, 2015}}</ref> He graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1944 with a degree in engineering and was thereafter commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy, where he served as a flight deck officer on the [[USS Savo Island]] aircraft carrier during World War II.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=June 1964|title=Princeton, Tigers, Are Hermann's Game|url=https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1203&context=bjc_barnes_record|journal=Hospital Record|volume=18, No. 6|pages=1|via=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news|last=Neman|first=Daniel|date=April 12, 2020|title='Mr. St. Louis' - businessman, philanthropist and soccer-team owner Bob Hermann dead at 97|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/mr-st-louis-businessman-philanthropist-and-soccer-team-owner-bob-hermann-dead-at-97/article_0bff5329-e3e4-5a56-a364-52c9260aff0a.html|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref>
Robert Ringen Hermann, Sr. was born January 3, 1923 to parents Frederick A. and Evelyn Ringen Hermann. He was raised in Clayton, Missouri and was educated at St. Louis Country Day School (later merged to form [[Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School|MICDS]]).<ref name="princeton">{{cite web|title=Princeton in the News|url=https://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/99/c/1222.htm|website=princeton|accessdate=October 8, 2015}}</ref> He graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1944 with a degree in engineering and was thereafter commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy, where he served as a flight deck officer on the [[USS Savo Island]] aircraft carrier during World War II.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=June 1964|title=Princeton, Tigers, Are Hermann's Game|url=https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1203&context=bjc_barnes_record|journal=Hospital Record|volume=18, No. 6|pages=1|via=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news|last=Neman|first=Daniel|date=April 12, 2020|title='Mr. St. Louis' - businessman, philanthropist and soccer-team owner Bob Hermann dead at 97|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/mr-st-louis-businessman-philanthropist-and-soccer-team-owner-bob-hermann-dead-at-97/article_0bff5329-e3e4-5a56-a364-52c9260aff0a.html|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref>


Hermann merited a lieutenant rank during his years of service. His unit was awarded a [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], an honor for "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy...gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps," and several other battle star.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Harbor Light News Staff|first=|date=April 15, 2020|title=Robert "Bob" Hermann|work=Harbor Light|url=https://www.harborlightnews.com/articles/robert-bob-hermann/|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Citation|title=Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|date=2020-04-07|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)&oldid=949668890|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>
Hermann merited a lieutenant rank during his years of service. His unit was awarded a [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], an honor for "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy...gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps," and several other battle star.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Harbor Light News Staff|first=|date=April 15, 2020|title=Robert "Bob" Hermann|work=Harbor Light|url=https://www.harborlightnews.com/articles/robert-bob-hermann/|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Citation|title=Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|date=2020-04-07|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)&oldid=949668890|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
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Hermann's set of endeavors became known as [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermann-companies Hermann Companies]. Today, the family-operated business focuses on private equity and providing financial and investment services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hermann Companies|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermann-companies|last=|first=|date=|website=LinkedIn|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref>
Hermann's set of endeavors became known as [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermann-companies Hermann Companies]. Today, the family-operated business focuses on private equity and providing financial and investment services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hermann Companies|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermann-companies|last=|first=|date=|website=LinkedIn|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Community Involvement==
Hermann was heavily involved in philanthropy throughout the Greater St. Louis region. He served on the board of numerous civic, cultural, and charitable organizations including the [[Saint Louis Zoo|St. Louis Zoological Park]], [[Missouri Botanical Garden]], St. Louis Public Library Foundation, Old Newsboys Day, [[BJC Heathcare]], [[The Muny|St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (The Muny)]], Arts and Education Council, and [[St. Louis Symphony Orchestra]].<ref name=":1" /> <ref>{{Cite news|last=Watson|first=Lisa|date=January 24, 2013|title=Dynamic People: Bob and Mary Lee Hermann|work=Ladue News|url=https://www.laduenews.com/business/features/dynamic-people-bob-and-mary-lee-hermann/article_1052e3b8-11b2-5891-b3b1-fd28ceda0d95.html|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref>

Hermann also established several events and nonprofits in the St. Louis region, the most recognizable being:

* In 1981, he founded the Veiled Prophet (V.P.) Fair, now called [[Fair Saint Louis|Fair St. Louis]]. Known by many as “America’s Biggest Birthday Party,” the event serves to “unite the region in a joint effort to promote St. Louis to the country and the world.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.fairsaintlouis.org/about/|website=Fair Saint Louis|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>
* Hermann was a founding chairman of Operation Brightside, a not-for-profit organization which enhances public spaces in St. Louis through litter pickup, graffiti removal, and planting of community gardens.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gravenhorst|first=Edna Campos|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4vXqjU4EEv8C&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=robert+hermann+operation+brightside&source=bl&ots=AiE0GMLiw4&sig=ACfU3U0OIbZbbV9Q_aaHad7fKq49p-KUFg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5_4DmwYvpAhXGVs0KHUgvAIsQ6AEwAnoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=robert%20hermann%20operation%20brightside&f=false|title=Southwest Garden|date=2008|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-6185-1|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|title=What We Do|url=https://www.brightsidestl.org/what-we-do/|website=Brightside St. Louis|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>
* In collaboration with [[Peter H. Raven]], former president of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and [[Whitney Robson Harris|Whitney R. Harris]], philanthropist, Hermann introduced the University of Missouri - St. Louis’ International Center for Tropical Ecology, along with its corresponding World Ecology Award.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Seltzer|first=Jo|date=February 18, 2010|title=UMSL's Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center Celebrates 20 Years of Conservation|work=St. Louis Public Radio|url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/umsls-whitney-r-harris-world-ecology-center-celebrates-20-years-conservation#stream/0|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref> The Award honors individuals who have made outstanding efforts in global conservation and has been presented annually since 1990. It has acknowledged several of the world’s most active conservationists including [[Jacques Cousteau|Jacques-Yves Cousteau]], [[Jane Goodall|Dr. Jane Goodall]], and [[E. O. Wilson|Dr. Edward O. Wilson]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Ecology Award|url=https://www.umsl.edu/hwec/events-outreach/world-ecology-award.html|website=www.umsl.edu|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>

Throughout his lifetime, Hermann was admired for his commitment to St. Louis and local fundraising efforts. In 1996, he was named “Man of the Year” by the St. Louis Variety Club and “Citizen of the Year” in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Variety Remembers Bob "Mr. St. Louis" Hermann|url=https://varietystl.org/blog/variety-remembers-bob-mr-st-louis-hermann|last=|first=|date=|website=Variety St. Louis|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|title=Hermann, Robert "Bob" 2012|url=https://stlsoccerhalloffame.com/member/hermann-robert-bob-2012/|website=St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref> He also received the St. Louis Award, presented annually to honor “the resident of Metropolitan St. Louis who, during the preceding year, has contributed the most outstanding service for its development.”<ref name=":1" /> <ref>{{Cite web|title=The St. Louis Award Statue, Pine|url=http://www.forestparkstatues.org/the-st-louis-award-statue-pine|website=Forest Park Statues & Monuments|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>

He is the only person to have received all three awards.


==Soccer executive==
==Soccer executive==

Revision as of 16:38, 30 April 2020

Bob Hermann
Born
Robert Ringen Hermann Sr

(1923-01-03)January 3, 1923
DiedApril 5, 2020(2020-04-05) (aged 97)
Ladue, Missouri, US
NationalityAmerican
EducationPrinceton University
OccupationBusinessman
SpouseLilly Busch (died 1995)
ChildrenRobert Ringen Hermann Jr
RelativesAugust Anheuser "Gussie" Busch, Jr (father-in-law)

Robert Ringen Hermann, Sr. (January 3, 1923 – April 5, 2020) was an American businessman, and soccer executive, from St. Louis, Missouri.

Early life

Robert Ringen Hermann, Sr. was born January 3, 1923 to parents Frederick A. and Evelyn Ringen Hermann. He was raised in Clayton, Missouri and was educated at St. Louis Country Day School (later merged to form MICDS).[1] He graduated from Princeton University in 1944 with a degree in engineering and was thereafter commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy, where he served as a flight deck officer on the USS Savo Island aircraft carrier during World War II.[2] [3]

Hermann merited a lieutenant rank during his years of service. His unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, an honor for "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy...gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps," and several other battle star.[4] [5]

Career

Following his time in the Navy, Hermann began a business career with the formation of Standard Container Company, a sales firm that sold boxboard packaging to breweries.[6] [7] The company later launched Anchor Packaging, a producer of cling-film and plastic food containers for takeout and delivery.[8]

Today, Anchor Packaging is North America's largest polypropylene food packaging thermoformer, with facilities in St. Louis, Missouri; Paragould, Marmaduke, and Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.[9] [10] Anchor's mission includes the use of environmentally friendly materials, an accomplishment for which the company has won several recognitions including the 2010 Greener Package Award and 2016 WorldStar Sustainability Award.[11][12]

In later years, Hermann diversified his scope of business with the development of Hermann Marketing.[6] He served as head of the company until his son, Robert R. Hermann, Jr., took over as CEO. Prior to its sale to Corporate Express (Staples), Hermann Marketing served many of the United States' largest businesses including United Airlines, IBM, UPS, and Texaco and was No. 1 out of 13,000 suppliers in the corporate identity business.[13]

Hermann's set of endeavors became known as Hermann Companies. Today, the family-operated business focuses on private equity and providing financial and investment services.[14]

Community Involvement

Hermann was heavily involved in philanthropy throughout the Greater St. Louis region. He served on the board of numerous civic, cultural, and charitable organizations including the St. Louis Zoological Park, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Public Library Foundation, Old Newsboys Day, BJC Heathcare, St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (The Muny), Arts and Education Council, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.[4] [15]

Hermann also established several events and nonprofits in the St. Louis region, the most recognizable being:

  • In 1981, he founded the Veiled Prophet (V.P.) Fair, now called Fair St. Louis. Known by many as “America’s Biggest Birthday Party,” the event serves to “unite the region in a joint effort to promote St. Louis to the country and the world.”[16]
  • Hermann was a founding chairman of Operation Brightside, a not-for-profit organization which enhances public spaces in St. Louis through litter pickup, graffiti removal, and planting of community gardens.[17] [18]
  • In collaboration with Peter H. Raven, former president of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and Whitney R. Harris, philanthropist, Hermann introduced the University of Missouri - St. Louis’ International Center for Tropical Ecology, along with its corresponding World Ecology Award.[19] The Award honors individuals who have made outstanding efforts in global conservation and has been presented annually since 1990. It has acknowledged several of the world’s most active conservationists including Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Dr. Edward O. Wilson.[20]

Throughout his lifetime, Hermann was admired for his commitment to St. Louis and local fundraising efforts. In 1996, he was named “Man of the Year” by the St. Louis Variety Club and “Citizen of the Year” in 1999.[21] [22] He also received the St. Louis Award, presented annually to honor “the resident of Metropolitan St. Louis who, during the preceding year, has contributed the most outstanding service for its development.”[4] [23]

He is the only person to have received all three awards.

Soccer executive

Hermann was the founder and former owner of the St. Louis Stars soccer team, and a former president of the National Professional Soccer League.[24] Hermann was one of the founders of the North American Soccer League, and was the chairman of the executive committee of NASL. The soccer stadium of the St. Louis Billiken's soccer team, Hermann Stadium, was named after him.[25]

He created the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.

Hermann was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001,[26] and into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.[27]

Personal life

Hermann organized the first charity polo match in Ladue, Missouri in 1957.[1]

He married Lilly Busch (1923–1995), the daughter of August Anheuser "Gussie" Busch, Jr. Their son Robert Ringen Hermann, Jr. married Signa Vernon Merrill in 1990.[28]

Hermann died April 5, 2020, at the age of 97.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b "Princeton in the News". princeton. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "Princeton, Tigers, Are Hermann's Game". Hospital Record. 18, No. 6: 1. June 1964.
  3. ^ Neman, Daniel (April 12, 2020). "'Mr. St. Louis' - businessman, philanthropist and soccer-team owner Bob Hermann dead at 97". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c Harbor Light News Staff (April 15, 2020). "Robert "Bob" Hermann". Harbor Light.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Presidential Unit Citation (United States)", Wikipedia, April 7, 2020, retrieved April 30, 2020
  6. ^ a b Hagerty, James R. (April 17, 2020). "Robert Hermann Bet Americans Would Learn to Love Soccer". The Wall Street Journal.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ [1], "Heat sealing apparatus", issued 1974-01-11 
  8. ^ "Anchor Packaging". Anchor Packaging. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "History". Anchor Packaging. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "Facilities". Anchor Packaging. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "Mission". Anchor Packaging. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Awards". Anchor Packaging. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Desloge, Rick (February 9, 1997). "Hermann finally takes bait, hooks up with Denver firm". St. Louis Business Journal.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Hermann Companies". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Watson, Lisa (January 24, 2013). "Dynamic People: Bob and Mary Lee Hermann". Ladue News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "About". Fair Saint Louis. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  17. ^ Gravenhorst, Edna Campos (2008). Southwest Garden. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-6185-1.
  18. ^ "What We Do". Brightside St. Louis. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  19. ^ Seltzer, Jo (February 18, 2010). "UMSL's Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center Celebrates 20 Years of Conservation". St. Louis Public Radio.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "World Ecology Award". www.umsl.edu. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Variety Remembers Bob "Mr. St. Louis" Hermann". Variety St. Louis. Retrieved April 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "Hermann, Robert "Bob" 2012". St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  23. ^ "The St. Louis Award Statue, Pine". Forest Park Statues & Monuments. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "Ambush return to St. Louis", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 22, 2013
  25. ^ "Robert R. Hermann Stadium Dedicated", October 27, 1999.
  26. ^ Robert “Bob” Hermann, Society for American Soccer History.
  27. ^ "Saint Louis Soccer Hall of Fame - Members". stlsoccerhalloffame.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  28. ^ "Signa Vernon Merrill Plans to Marry Robert Ringen Hermann Jr. in June". nytimes. May 27, 1990. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  29. ^ Robert Ringen "Bob" Hermann
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