Herman Sasser - Even Old Men Can Get High

Herman, grew up on a farm in Union County, North Carolina in an era where farm children, like Herman, from age eight to seventeen milked cows, picked cotton, and did “all sorts of farm work”.  Herman was a 1944 war baby whose father was a Sergeant in a tank division that moved through France to Berlin before he could return home to see his offspring.  As a versatile athlete Herman excelled in Basketball, Football and Baseball-anything to avoid farm chores!  Herman was a scholar as well, receiving a congressional appointment to West Point Military Academy (Slowpants was advised that Dr. Ben Carson did not want him to fact check this!).  Herman’s astigmatism precluded him from passing the entrance exam physical.  Herman had offers from Duke and the University of North Carolina (UNC).  Herman became a tarheel and graduated from UNC in 1967 with a B.A. in Psychology.

Herman’s younger brothers were equally athletic and his sister academically inclined following the example Herman set.  Jon, in his early 50s, has completed four Iron Man events as well as a large number of triathlons.  Charles, age 68, bike races in the masters competitions in North Carolina and recently climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.  Sister Jane is a published writer and teacher.

Six months after graduation Herman received his draft notice.  The Army initially sent Herman to Fort Polk, Louisiana (career Army refer to this installation as the armpit of the Army) for Basic and Advanced Infantry training.  Herman applied for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was selected attending Engineer Branch OCS at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.  Herman’s follow up assignment as a REMF (ask Chris Scammon what this is!) was as a recruiting officer for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.  Herman was able to earn a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond in the evenings while on recruiting duty.  Herman could not have studied that hard as he met his wife Connie, forty-eight years and counting, in Richmond.  Both were avid tennis players and Herman aced her!  The Army finally realized that Herman had not been to Vietnam and to Connie’s consternation issued him orders to deploy that were voided by the war ending before Herman could be shipped overseas.  The Army advised Herman that if they wanted him to have a wife that they would have issued him one!  They had a son, Herman Wallace Sasser, III, and three grandchildren Carolina (age 7), Lincoln (age 5), and Palmer (3).    

Post military, Herman became a Merrill Lynch stock broker.  Herman parlayed his experience to a position with American Savings and Loan servicing high deposit corporate clients.  After the savings and loan crisis, Herman transitioned to a follow on career as a Management Consultant.  The only person I have ever seen Herman consult with is Dave Oblinger about bumming a ride!   

Ever the Energizer Bunny, Herman plays a lot of golf, including over three hundred rounds a few years ago.  Herman has been active the Run and See Grand Prix, Black Bag, and Clover Glove series since 2005, contributing to a weight loss of twenty-five pounds in 2014.  Herman is in the running in the 70-74 age category, much to the chagrin of Jim Latimer and Bill Tweedell.  All their times are close and Herman’s favorite races are when they all three are contenders.  He also prefers races where he does not take a wrong turn and get lost, “which has happened an embarrassing number of times”.   

Herman quips about getting high as “there is no doubt in my mind that running is an endorphin related addiction. However, it is a healthy addiction that involves more benefit that any other activity that I know.” 

Bob checking out from the back of the pack.  Look for the profile of Amber Reeves and the profile of senior runner Bill Costantino.