Lake Forest Obituary: Orley R. Herron, 85

Dr. Orley R. Herron Jr., longtime National Louis University president and civic leader, 85, died of cancer on February 14, 2019. He had been a longtime Lake Forest resident. While his decades-spanning accomplishments are notable, perhaps he will be remembered most for his gregarious personality, contagious smile, constant generosity and unwavering commitment to always order dessert first.

Orley had a deep love for the Lake Forest community, putting his last business office near market square so he could enjoy the people and businesses there, being especially fond of Sweets chocolate, Left Bank hot dogs, and all the desserts at Foodstuffs.

During his twenty-year tenure at National Louis University (formerly National College of Education), Herron led the expansion to 6 campuses in Illinois, 5 centers in other states and international operations in 4 European countries. Prior to National, he was President of Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois, where he served for 7 years as one of the youngest college presidents in the nation.

“I’ve never met a man with more energy, humor and capacity to make things happen,” said Dr. Richard Stephens, who succeeded Herron as Greenville University’s president. “He was extraordinary and met each day with great verve that spurred us all on to accomplish the vision he set before us. Most importantly, he encouraged all of us to be better human beings, releasing us to reach higher than we ever thought we could.”

For his forward-thinking mindset about how to better educate youth, Herron was appointed by President Nixon to represent all of U.S. education as a member of the United States delegation at the 25th anniversary of UNESCO, held in Paris, France. The President also appointed him as the National Director of Educators in 1972. In this role, he worked regularly with the White House, Congress and corporate executives across America to address the educational concerns of the country.

Frank Watson, former Illinois State Senator and Senate Republican Leader commented that “Orley was a giant in so many areas—education, politics, community betterment and social good. I was impressed with his ability to unite people around a common goal and bring them together in ways that made a lasting impact.”

Herron served on numerous civic and philanthropic boards including as Vice Chair of the Ditka Foundation, Chair of Harris Bank Wilmette, the Chicago Foundation of Education, Corporate Community School of America, and the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, where he hosted over 30 shows on PBS. His love of God and people was always on full display in his hope-filled messages on air and in person.

Jerry Rose, Chairman of Total Living Network (a Chicago-based religious broadcast and internet company formerly known as WCFC-TV38) where Herron served as a board member remarked that “Orley was a personal friend who made a significant contribution to my life. He was an exceptional man of God, shining a much-needed light in this world, always with a bright smile and a great twinkle in his eye. So many of us will miss his counsel, his wit, his larger-than-life presence. I bet there was a great chorus in heaven for his arrival.”

Herron had a love (but not mastery) of golf. That passion led to helping initiate the return of the Grand Slam of Golf that provided scholarships for PGA Junior Golf. At one of the events Arnold Palmer said “Orley if we could just harness that power of yours to hit it straight!” Always an athlete with a deep respect for all sports, Dr. Herron helped secure amateur baseball as a competitive sport in the 1984 Olympics and was awarded the prestigious President’s Award by International Amateur Baseball. He also led many chapel services for professional athletes in the National Football League and Major League Baseball. He loved to talk to men about the power of positivity, prayer and perspective.

In 1996, the Amicus Poloniae award was conferred on Herron by the Polish Ambassador to the United States for his work with business and political leaders in Poland to establish the number one private business school in that country. Other honors included being inducted in the North Shore Magazine Walk of Fame for outstanding service to society, being a recipient of the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from Religious Heritage of America, Outstanding Citizen of the Year in Greenville, IL, Alumnus of the Year for Distinguished Service to Society from Wheaton College and being featured by a Chicago magazine as one of the best dressed men in Chicago.

Herron also served on the Illinois Commission for Improvement in Elementary and Secondary Education (1983-1985), Council for Advancement of Small Colleges, Christian College Consortium (executive committee), Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions (president 1973-1975), Federation of Indiana and Illinois Colleges (executive board 1971-1997) and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Association of Higher Education, Rotary and Kiwanis.

Herron’s love of his hometown, New Philadelphia, Ohio was always evident in his many contributions to it and the honors he received through the years including Outstanding Alumnus Award, Hall of Fame Inductee and the naming of the Herron Family Press Box at the Quaker Football Stadium.

Herron authored 9 books including The Role of the Trustee, Input Output, New Dimensions in Student Personnel Administration, A Christian Executive in a Secular World, Who Controls your Child, Words to Live By, Notes for the New Millennium, Big Life Transitions, and Promises for the Twists and Turns of Life.

He graduated from Wheaton College in 1955 and went on to earn a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from Michigan State University. He was also awarded two honorary doctorate degrees from Houghton College (1972) and Lesley College (1983). He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve and led many church services on naval bases around the country during the 1970s.

He is survived by his wife Donna and his children Jill Carter (Scott), Morgan Herron (Magda) and Mark Herron (Sonya). Also surviving him are his sister Jo Herron, his brother Niles Herron (Rusty) and 4 grandchildren: Chase, Grant and Glenne Carter and Breanna Herron.

A service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, February 24th at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Church Lake Forest, 100 N Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest, Illinois. There will be a reception immediately following. In Orley’s honor, donations can be sent to Awakening To God Ministries.