Wooster mourns passing of Henry Herring, professor emeritus of English
Henry D. Herring, professor emeritus of English at The College of Wooster, passed away on Sept. 2, 2023, in Portland, Oregon at the age of 82. Herring served at the College for nearly four decades, beginning in 1969 and retiring in 2007.
Herring’s research focused on both seventeenth century English literature and twentieth century American literature. He had a special interest in the writings of Robert Penn Warren, about whom he published several journal articles, and film, which he shared with students through weekly movie nights he organized on campus. Herring taught courses in American literature, short fiction, and a seminar on alienation and conflict in contemporary literature.
Throughout his time at Wooster, Herring served as a leader at the College. In 1972, he developed and coordinated the Integrated Freshman Quarter. This program introduced first-year students to the concepts and curriculum of a liberal arts education and gave students opportunities to explore courses not typically offered in high school. Herring also served as chair of a committee in 1978 to re-examine the College’s Code of Conduct. In the classroom, Herring helped his students develop their skills not only in literary analysis, but also how to think independently and make connections across disciplines.
“While Professor Herring could expound, no doubt, for days on various masterpieces of American literature or European filmmaking, he wasn’t one to push his idea on us with long lectures. He seemed more interested in helping us to develop our own ideas,” wrote Lisa Vickery ’80 in the Fall 2000 edition of Wooster magazine. “At Wooster, intellectual stimulation was just a given, in no small part because of Henry Herring.”
Herring received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of South Carolina and his Ph.D. from Duke University in 1968. Prior to coming to Wooster, he taught at Virginia Polytechnic Institute for three years and was an instructor at Midwestern University, in Wichita Falls, Texas for two years.
Herring was a deeply loved husband, brother, father, stepfather, grandfather, friend, and teacher, who inspired a love of language and learning in his students. His family welcomes anyone who knew him to share their memories here.
Posted in News on September 25, 2023.
