Bill Herring was a lover and pioneer in the arts community of the South.
“He was the star of the city; he advanced the culture of the city,” said friend Luis Maza.
“Everywhere he went, he was a bright light.”
At the age of 14, Herring entered Emory University, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in economics. He continued his education at Emory Law, New York and Florida State universities.
He was the “smartest man I ever knew,” said son William Herring Jr. “He was scary smart; wasn’t anything he didn’t know.”
His home in Atlanta holds one of the largest personal reference libraries.
“We always said he should go on Jeopardy,” Herring Jr. said.
William Clifton Herring of Atlanta died Oct. 8 of heart failure. He was 86. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree St N.E., Atlanta. Wages & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
His passion for knowledge mixed with his love of the arts: “He knew the name of every instrument; even the weird ones,” said Herring Jr.
As a young man he managed the Chattanooga Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and also worked at Atlanta’s Theater Under the Stars.
Herring help found, develop and run the North Carolina School of the Arts, the first state supported residential school in the U.S. for professional training in the performing Arts. He also served as the administrative director of the school.
“He was proud of helping build North Carolina School of the Arts, and it’s nationally known today,” said Herring Jr.
He served as president of the Memorial Arts Center’s Arts Alliance in 1970. Herring soon formed his own business, Worldwide Travelogs, and for 18 years presented series of travel film programs throughout the Southeast.
“He knew so many people; conductors, opera singers, composers, people of the ballet,” said his son.
“All of our friends said we had the coolest old parents,” said Herring Jr.
Herring and his wife Katharine Yundt Herring, known to many as Fritzi, were both part of the arts culture. Fritz, a writer, met Herring at The Atlanta Journal newspaper.
“I was in the society department and he would come give us publicity stories about the symphony,” she said.
After retirement Herring still loved to go to the symphony. He also was an avid birdwatcher and steam engine enthusiast.
“I would drop him off on the train and drive through the mountains to pick him up at the next train stop,” said Herring of her husband.
In addition to his wife and son, Herring is survived by daughters Katharine Elizabeth Herring of Guyton, Ga. and Lucy Yundt Herring of Atlanta.
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