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Bob Hermann

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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, soccer executive, and philanthropist 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 stars.[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

In 1966, Hermann sought to bring the world’s most popular sport to the United States by forming the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). The NPSL played for the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). Hermann was nominated as Chairman of the Executive Committee.[24]

Wishing to put St. Louis on the map, Hermann was the founder and co-owner of the St. Louis Stars soccer team. The team played with the NPSL/NASL for the 1968-1977 seasons. After 1977, the Stars moved to Anaheim, California and rebranded as the California Surf. Hermann continued as an owner until 1980.[24]

Hermann’s largest soccer legacy is the Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. The Trophy was established in his honor by the NAPL/NASL and is awarded annually to the best male and female college soccer players in the United States.[25] The soccer stadium of the St. Louis Billiken's soccer team, Robert R. Hermann Stadium (Hermann Stadium), was named after him.[26]

Hermann was “inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001 for his philanthropy efforts and impact of the game of soccer in America,” and the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.[27] [28]

Personal life

Hermann was married twice, to the late Lilly Busch Hermann, daughter of August Anheuser "Gussie" Busch, Jr, and the late Mary Lee Marshall Hermann. He had three children: Christy Busch Hermann (1946 – 1969), Carlota Hermann Holton (married to Richard C. Holton Sr.) and Robert R. Hermann, Jr. (married to Signa Vernon Merrill).[29] [30]

Hermann died April 5, 2020 at the age of 97.[31]

References

  1. ^ "Princeton in the News". Princeton. Retrieved October 8, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. ^ a b "Bob Hermann 2001 Inductee". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "History". MAC Hermann Trophy. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  26. ^ "Robert R. Hermann Stadium - Men's & Women's Soccer". Saint Louis University. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  27. ^ "'01 HOF Member Bob Hermann Passes Away | National Soccer Hall of Fame". National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "2012 Inductees". St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  29. ^ "Christy Busch Hermann (1946-1969) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  30. ^ "Signa Vernon Merrill Plans to Marry Robert Ringen Hermann Jr. in June". The New York Times. May 27, 1990. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  31. ^ "Robert Ringen "Bob" Hermann". Legacy. April 12, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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