Hugh Herring

Mr. Hugh Herring, Jr. of Geneva passed away Friday, March 13, 2009 at his home. He was 82. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Geneva with Rev. Bill Kidwell officiating. Burial will follow in the Geneva City Cemetery with Pittman Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Geneva Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 6 until 8 p.m.
Mr. Herring was born June 8, 1926 in Geneva to Stephen Houston Herring and Myrtle Smith Herring. Upon graduation from Geneva High School in 1944, he joined the Navy, where he served for two years during World War II. Following his discharge from the Navy, he married the love of his life, Dora Knight. Mr. Herring graduated from Campbell Business College and went to work for the Citizen's Bank in Geneva, where he remained for 60 years, retiring in December 2008. His favorite past times were fishing, sports and spending time with his family. Mr. Herring also served in the Geneva city government for 44 years: 8 years on city council and 36 years as mayor, becoming the longest consecutive term serves as mayor in the State of Alabama. While mayor of Geneva, he established the city's first budget and kept Geneva in the black for each of his 36 years. He also established the Geneva City School System and the City Recreation Department. As mayor, he brought national attention to Geneva as the "Mayor Who Refused to Evacuate" when the levee threatened to fail. He worked hard to secure a new levee for Geneva and upon its completion, it was named in his honor.
Mr. Herring was a member of the First United Methodist Church, past Commander of the American Legion and was presented the Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club.
He helped organize Little League Baseball and was its first manager. He coached the Indians to several championships and was also selected to coach several all-star teams.
He was 1972 Man of the Year presented by the Combined Civic Clubs of Geneva.
Under his administration, he had the area known as "The Junction" proclaimed The Robert Fowler Park, which was named after a local Vietnam War hero slain in action. He was founder of the Geneva River Rats and served as Commodore for many years, which helped bring attention to the Choctawhatchee and Pea rivers. He later helped develop The Festival on the Rivers. He continued to promote and improve the facilities at the park throughout his administration. Current Mayor Wynnton Melton has taken on the project of promoting and improving the park at his special request.
He was a Master Mason and presently serving as President of the Shriners.
Mr. Herring was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Doris Herring.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dora Knight Herring; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Suzanne McLain (Jim) of Charleston, SC and Dee Dee Trudeau (Rob) of Spartanburg, S.C.; one son, Steven Jay Herring of Geneva; five grandchildren, Kelly Shannon (Paul) of Mechanicsville, Va., Dena Mullinax (Bill) of Summerville, S.C., Ashley Walden of Chancellor, Courtney Short (Josh) of Birmingham, and Jada Herring of Geneva; six great-grandchildren, Sydney and Tyler Shannon of Mechanicsville, Va., Grey and McKinsey Mullinax of Charleston, S.C., Auston Walden of Chancellor, and Carter Short of Birmingham; one brother, Charles Herbert Herring (Carolyn) of Geneva; one sister-in-law, Martha Dobbs (Ralph) of Pensacola, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.
Pittman Funeral Home in Geneva, (334) 684-2600, is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.