Dr. Herbert F. Reinhard Jr. (“Herb”) of Alpharetta, Georgia and a long time former resident of Tallahassee, Florida passed away on January 13, 2022 at the age of 91. He leaves his very beloved wife of 66 years, Nancy Warner Reinhard, three sons and a daughter, Herb Reinhard III (and wife Linda) of Valdosta, Georgia, Don Reinhard of Florida, Mark Reinhard of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Ann Schildhammer (and husband Tom) of Gainesville, Georgia. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Christopher Reinhard (and wife Rebecca) and Morgan Thomas (and husband Cameron) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Herb Reinhard IV (and wife Deanna) of Greenville, North Carolina, Tommy Schildhammer (and wife Abby) of Richmond, Texas, Rebecca Reinhard of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam Schildhammer of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Donavanne and Dane Reinhard of Tallahassee, Florida, and one great granddaughter, Adalyn Reinhard of Greenville, North Carolina.
Herb was born in Covington, Kentucky on September 12, 1930, and was a professional tap dancer as a youth in Cincinnati, Ohio. He played one year of minor league baseball as a right-handed pitcher and enrolled as a freshman at Florida State University (FSU) in January 1949. He was an active member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and a cast member of several University theatrical productions, and was elected twice as Director of the all student musical production known as Sandspur. In January 1951, he enlisted in the United States Navy and became a Hospital Corpsman. He served his last two years with the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in January 1955.
Upon leaving the military, Herb returned to FSU where he met the love of his life, FSU cheerleader and circus acrobat Nancy Jane Warner. They met in March 1955, were engaged two months later in May 1955, and in August 1955, they began a marriage and life-long love affair of 66 years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from FSU in January 1957 and his Master’s degree in 1960 (also from FSU), and thereafter accepted the position of Director of Student Activities at Auburn University, which was the first of many positions that he held during his long and distinguished career in higher education administration. In July 1962, he was awarded a graduate assistantship at Indiana University to pursue a doctoral degree and later that year he accepted the full time position of Assistant Director of the Indiana Memorial Union, the world’s largest college union. He returned to FSU as Assistant Director of its new University Union in July 1964, became the Director of the FSU Union in 1965, and was named FSU’s Dean of Student Services in 1967. He later served as Vice President for Student Development at Western Carolina University and he returned to Tallahassee in 1973 where he served Presidents Ben Perry and Walter Smith of Florida A&M University as Assistant to the President.
In 1979, Herb was appointed President of Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania by then Governor Dick Thornburgh and he led that institution to University status in 1983. He accepted the Presidency of Morehead State University in Kentucky in 1984 and the Presidency of Frostburg State College in western Maryland in 1986. In 1987, Frostburg State University became the second institution to gain University status under his leadership. He retired and returned to Tallahassee in 1991 and he moved to Alpharetta in early 2000 to be closer to his daughter and her family.
Herb was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and he served in the choir and on the Session at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. He also coached Atom, Cub, and Little League baseball at Winthrop Park for many years. He brought smiles, joy and happiness to countless people young and old as Santa Claus, donning his red suit, white beard and black boots, and exclaiming “Ho Ho Ho” every Christmas season for 53 years. He was twice elected by college and university presidents to the NCAA Presidents Commission and served as President of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Association. He served for six years as Chairman of the Committee on Governance for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and honored by the Legislature of Pennsylvania and the Legislature and Governor of Maryland. During his three college presidencies he also was selected to participate in educational missions to Canada, Korea, Thailand, Italy, and Austria. He often quipped that his ‘claim to fame’ was when he hooded Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood while awarding him an honorary doctorate from Slippery Rock University. And, as a fitting tribute to Herb’s work in and commitment to higher education, in 2002, he was selected to give the commencement address and was awarded an honorary doctorate and the status of President Emeritus at Slippery Rock University.
A Memorial Service to celebrate and honor the life of Herb F. Reinhard Jr. will be held on February 5, 2022 at 1:30 PM at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church (10950 Bell Road, Johns Creek, Georgia 30097).
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Johns Creek Presbyterian Church or Valdosta State Athletics.
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