W.F. Herman (died 1938) was a Canadian newspaper publisher. He was the owner and publisher of the Windsor Star from 1918 until his death.

W. F. Herman
Born
DiedJanuary 15, 1938[1]
NationalityCanadian
OccupationPublisher
SpouseAdie Knox Herman
ChildrenRuth Knox Herman

Biography

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Herman was the son of a sea captain.[2][3] His first job was at a weekly newspaper, where he discovered his passion for the newspaper business.[1]

In the early 1900s, Herman went to Boston, Massachusetts, seeking better employment opportunities. He met and married Adie Knox. In Boston their only daughter, Ruth, was born.[1] (Ruth died in 1920.)[3]

Moving back to Canada in 1911, the Hermans settled in Saskatoon. For a short time in 1911, Herman owned the Prince Albert Herald. He switched it from a weekly to a daily newspaper, and then sold the journal back to its original owners.[4]

In 1912, Herman and his partner Talmage Lawson bought another local daily, The Saskatoon Capital.[5] They changed its name to The Saskatoon Daily Star, and Herman became editor.[2] During this period, Herman also owned The Regina Evening Post.[3]

In 1918, W.F. Herman came to Windsor, Ontario, and purchased The Record newspaper, changing its name to The Border City Star.[3][2]

Upon the amalgamation of Windsor, Walkerville, Sandwich, and East Windsor in 1935, the name of the newspaper changed to The Windsor Star.

Death

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Herman came to Southern California in late 1937, and died in Los Angeles on January 15, 1938, after a surgical procedure.[2] He left behind a legacy of hard work and a reputation for strong will and determination.[1]

The day he died, his own newspaper supplied the most fitting epitaph:

He never sought personal glory and he disliked ostentation. His tastes were simple and his manner of living plain. He wanted to be a good citizen and a good newspaperman. He was both.[citation needed]

Honors

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Herman demonstrated a keen interest in education; he believed that giving young people a good educational background would help them meet and cope with the challenges of the world. It was also his opinion that a sound educational system was a worthwhile investment in progress.[1] In recognition of his lifelong interest in education, in 1958 the Windsor Board of Education named W. F. Herman Collegiate Institute after him.[1] (The school has been subsequently renamed the W. F. Herman Academy.)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "W.F. Herman History," W.F. Herman Secondary School website. Accessed Jan. 8, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e "W. F. Herman, Editor of the Windsor Star," New York Times (Jan. 17, 1938).
  3. ^ a b c d Adie Knox Herman obituary, Windsor Star (March 15th, 1967). Archived at International Metropolis.
  4. ^ "A Newspaper's Silver Jubilee," The Montreal Gazette (Nov. 4, 1936).
  5. ^ "About Us," Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Accessed Jan. 8, 2015.