Mr. Herman Harris Lamb

Herman Harris Lamb, 94, of Chattanooga passed away on Friday, September 09, 2011.
He is a native of Chattanooga, attended Central Elementary, Northside Jr. High (first graduating class) and graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1935. He attended Kirkman Technical School before entering the photographic field.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Lamb.

Herman was a member of White Oak Baptist Church, past member of Northside Baptist Church in North Chattanooga. He joined the church as age 12 (1929) and served in many capacities. He and his late wife, Dorothy, served as youth leaders, taking many youth to Galinburg for a church retreat every year.

Herman started photography as a hobby, with his brother, when he was 8 years old with a home darkroom. He managed the Walter Cline Photography, later sold to Fox and retired in 1986 after more than 50 years. He was asked to continue for eight years to train the five men who would serve as managers of the southeastern states in which Fox had stores. He worked at the "Camera Center Inc." on Eighth Street in Chattanooga, and also began another store in the Brainerd Village, retiring April 1, 1986.

Since 1941, Herman and Dorothy Lamb have been sharing most everything, including their March birthday month. Their life-long romance and business partnership began with a chance meeting at a church social, and soon after, the newlyweds opened a retail camera store on 8th and Market Street.

He was a charter member of Photographic Society of Chattanooga where he served as Vice President and won the 1966 "Photo of the Year" award. Photographs displayed
In many books including the history of Chattanooga, Encyclopedia Britannica, Popular Photography, American Home, Progressive Farmer, Southern Living and National Geographic, and National Railway Historical Society magazines, as well as many postcards.

During World War II, Herman was contracted by the military to photograph group shots of Women's Army Corps personnel at Fort Oglethorpe before they left for war. He also was hired to photograph the base to be used to help construct the set for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) movie about the WACs, "Keep Your Powder Dry." He would always say "I have taken more photographs of women in military uniform than anyone else in the country."

Herman joined the Optimist Club in 1948 where he has served as club photographer and former member of the board of directors, and served as chaplain for many years. He was awarded "Optimist of the Year" in 2000. He was also a member of Hill City Lodge F&AM #603. He and his wife were charter members of the Frye Camera Club where he served as president three times. They supervised many photo contests at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Interstate Fair.

Herman helped create the Great Mountain Special steam train excursion from Chattanooga to Tracy City, TN. He has been Vice President of the Railway Historical Society and the National Rail Tours of America. He was also TN director for the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS).

Herman and Dorothy were very active volunteers with the Tennessee Valley Railroad and were among the founders of that museum. He has served as its director and vice president three times, on the board of directors and has handled ticket sales for excursions. He was with Paul Merriman, owner of the 4501 when the engine was purchased.

Herman was named "Who's Who in Tennessee Nursing Homes, a program run by the Tennessee Health Care Association to honor resident who were business and community leaders.

He is survived by several nieces and cousins.

The family will receive friends from 2 until 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the North Chapel.

Services for Herman will be held 3:30 p.m. Sunday, September 11, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with the Rev. Sullins Lamb officiating. Burial will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank the members of TVRM for their loyal visits and special thanks to the staff at St. Barnabas Nursing Home for their loving care of Herman.

Memorial contributions may be made to TVRM, 4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or St. Barnabas DreamMakers, 950 Siskin Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37403, Attn: Carrie Ezell.

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, North Chapel, 5401 Hwy 153, Hixson, TN 37343. Share your memories on line at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.