Walter James Herman

Jim was born in Clay Center, KS to Betty and Walter Herman of Wakefield, KS on July 9, 1934. He went to school at Wakefield Rural High School where he played basketball for the Blue Bombers. He attended Kansas State University and the Illinois Institute of Technology for his undergraduate education, graduating from IIT with a BS in Economics in 1956. He then earned an MBA (1960) and a PhD in Economics (1966) from the University of Florida, and did a Post Doctoral Fellowship at Yale University in 1968. He was charter faculty at the University of South Florida, where he worked as a Professor of Economics for 40 years. Known for being a dedicated professor with a rigorous syllabus, Jim earned several teaching awards including: University Distinguished Teaching Award (1973), Outstanding Graduate Economics Professor (1978, 1980, 1981,1985, 1986, 1988, 1989), Kahn Teaching Award (1989), & Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (1989).

Jim married Jane Howard on June 18, 1966, in Tampa, FL and they remained happily married for 57 years. Jim & Jane raised their two sons Mike & Mark in Temple Terrace, FL, instilling strong work ethics and a passion for economics.

Jim is preceded in death by brother Roger Herman & his wife Caryl. Jim is survived by wife Jane Herman, sons Mike (Cindy) Herman of Fort Thomas, KY & Mark (Carina) Herman of Denver, CO, brother John (Judy) Herman of Fort Collins, CO, granddaughters Abby (Mark) Lienhardt of Cincinnati, OH & Lexi Herman of Newport, KY.

A memorial ceremony will be held at Highland Cemetery in Wakefield, KS at a future time. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to the Wakefield Museum, Wakefield, Kansas, 67487, in Jim’s memory.