Kent State Remembers Art and Margaret Herrick
Kent State University is mourning the passing of J. Arthur “Art” and Margaret Herrick, emeriti professors and two of the university’s most generous benefactors.
Professor Art Herrick began teaching in 1937 at Kent State, where he trained generations of botanists, conservationists and teachers for 35 years until his retirement in 1972. Professor Margaret Herrick graduated from the university in 1941, and taught speech pathology and audiology for many years until her retirement in 1982, the year she married Art.
Together, the Herricks made a tremendous impact at Kent State, giving more than $2.4 million in their lifetimes. They were the first supporters to give more than $1 million, and in 2004 they received the university’s Lifetime Philanthropy Award. Many of their gifts supported the J. Arthur and Margaret Hatton Herrick Endowed Chair in Plant Conservation Biology.
“It is difficult to express fully the scope of the Herricks’ legacy at Kent State,” university President Lester Lefton said. “As academic leaders, they educated thousands of students. As conservationists, they worked to ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations. And as philanthropists, they guaranteed resources will be available for scholars long past their lifetimes.”
After retirement, Art Herrick became known to many in the community simply as the “tree man” because of his efforts to cut down dead trees — he donated any funds he was paid for that work to the Cooperrider Herbarium Fund at Kent State. At his Morris Road home in Kent, he planted hundreds of varieties of trees and plants over the years.
“The most amazing sight was Art Herrick, at 95 years old, climbing in a tree carrying a chainsaw in the middle of a snowstorm,” said Joe Macedo, associate vice president of gift and estate planning. “Twice he had me out in a snowstorm, chopping dead wood to clear land. He refused to let age stop him from pursuing his passion.”
Professor Herrick was perhaps Ohio’s greatest conservationist. In 1969, he purchased land in Portage County to ensure it would not be developed. That land in 2001 became the J. Arthur Herrick Fen Nature Preserve, which he had donated to Kent State and the Ohio Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, for which he was one of the founding members. The preserve, which is open to the public, has been expanded to 140 acres.
In 1969, the Kent State Board of Trustees awarded Art Herrick the President’s Medal, the highest honor for a faculty or staff member.
In 1972, Gov. John J. Gilligan inducted Art Herrick into Ohio’s Natural Resources Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named Ohio’s Conservation Hero, one of 50 individuals — one from each state — to be selected nationally.
In 2007, the university named its planned-giving organization the Herrick Society in recognition of the couple’s generosity. A number of campus sites also are named after the couple, including the Herrick Aquatic Ecology Research Facility, a one-acre wetland study site; and the Herrick Conservatory Gardens and Arboretum.
The Herricks also endowed a research fund to support students working and learning at the Aquatic Ecology Research Facility.
Margaret Herrick was especially proud of the connections created through couple’s philanthropy. In a 2007 interview she remarked, “Our experiences at Kent State and as donors have introduced us to the greatest people.”
Start your campaign conversation today.
Kent State University Foundation
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001
330-672-2222
advancement@kent.edu
Kent State Remembers Art and Margaret Herrick Kent State University is mourning the passing of J. Arthur “Art” and Margaret Herrick, emeriti professors and two of the university’s most generous benefactors.
Together, the Herricks made a tremendous impact at Kent State, giving more than $2.4 million in their lifetimes. They were the first supporters to give more than $1 million, and in 2004 they received the university’s Lifetime Philanthropy Award. Many of their gifts supported the J. Arthur and Margaret Hatton Herrick Endowed Chair in Plant Conservation Biology. “It is difficult to express fully the scope of the Herricks’ legacy at Kent State,” university President Lester Lefton said. “As academic leaders, they educated thousands of students. As conservationists, they worked to ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations. And as philanthropists, they guaranteed resources will be available for scholars long past their lifetimes.” After retirement, Art Herrick became known to many in the community simply as the “tree man” because of his efforts to cut down dead trees — he donated any funds he was paid for that work to the Cooperrider Herbarium Fund at Kent State. At his Morris Road home in Kent, he planted hundreds of varieties of trees and plants over the years. “The most amazing sight was Art Herrick, at 95 years old, climbing in a tree carrying a chainsaw in the middle of a snowstorm,” said Joe Macedo, associate vice president of gift and estate planning. “Twice he had me out in a snowstorm, chopping dead wood to clear land. He refused to let age stop him from pursuing his passion.” Professor Herrick was perhaps Ohio’s greatest conservationist. In 1969, he purchased land in Portage County to ensure it would not be developed. That land in 2001 became the J. Arthur Herrick Fen Nature Preserve, which he had donated to Kent State and the Ohio Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, for which he was one of the founding members. The preserve, which is open to the public, has been expanded to 140 acres. In 1969, the Kent State Board of Trustees awarded Art Herrick the President’s Medal, the highest honor for a faculty or staff member. In 1972, Gov. John J. Gilligan inducted Art Herrick into Ohio’s Natural Resources Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named Ohio’s Conservation Hero, one of 50 individuals — one from each state — to be selected nationally. In 2007, the university named its planned-giving organization the Herrick Society in recognition of the couple’s generosity. A number of campus sites also are named after the couple, including the Herrick Aquatic Ecology Research Facility, a one-acre wetland study site; and the Herrick Conservatory Gardens and Arboretum. The Herricks also endowed a research fund to support students working and learning at the Aquatic Ecology Research Facility. Margaret Herrick was especially proud of the connections created through couple’s philanthropy. In a 2007 interview she remarked, “Our experiences at Kent State and as donors have introduced us to the greatest people.” |
Start your campaign conversation today. Kent State University Foundation P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001 330-672-2222 advancement@kent.edu |