Lawrence Louis "Larry" Herzog Jr.

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Louisville Memorial Gardens East and Funeral Home

11601 Ballardsville Road

Louisville, Kentucky

Lawrence Herzog Obituary

HERZOG

Lawrence "Larry" Louis, Jr., 74 of Louisville, KY passed away on October 17, 2015. Loving husband of Ruth Ann for 53 years; beloved father of Christine Miles, Lisa Waring (James) and Susan Clinkscales (Michael); cherished grandfather "Pops" of 7; Drew, Jacob, and Claire Miles, Jonathan and Matthew Waring, and Michael and Madelynne Clinkscales. Larry was the oldest of 7 children born to Lawrence and Mary Edna "Betty" Herzog, and is survived by 6 siblings, Dan (Mary), Mary Jo (the late, Jerry), Mark (Denise), Steve (Linda), Alice (Mike) and Nina (Gary) and their families, including 12 Nieces and Nephews and the late, George McCall. Larry graduated from the University of Cincinnati, College of Pharmacy in 1961. He retired from Walgreens after 38 years of service. Larry's love of flying began as a hobby, but he soon became a dedicated flight instructor and mentor to many, serving over 33 years in the Civil Air Patrol (Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force), where he achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. He received the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding performance of duty on September 11, 2001, flying the only Civilian aircraft in the skies while all other air traffic was grounded. During this mission, he transported lifesaving blood products and medical equipment to aid the victims of 9/11. Larry touched many people during his lifetime and he will be greatly missed. He has a new set of wings and will fly high in the skies. A visitation will be held Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Louisville Memorial Gardens Funeral Home East, 11601 Ballardsville Road, Louisville, KY 40241. A funeral mass will be held on October 22, 2015 at St. Margaret Mary Church, 7813 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY, 40222 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Louisville Memorial Gardens East with Color Guard presented by Civil Air Patrol. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Civil Air Patrol Foundation to assist in the training and development of future Cadets as a legacy to his committed service by visiting www.capfoundation.com, to the American Diabetes Association, or to Hosparus, of Louisville, Kentucky. The family encourages you to leave an online condolence or to share a memory by visiting the funeral home website at: www.lmgfuneralhomeeast.com.

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Published by Kentucky Enquirer from Oct. 19 to Oct. 20, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Lawrence Herzog

7 Entries

Keith Noe

October 29, 2015

Unlike some, maybe most of my C.A.P. colleagues, I did not meet Larry in the Civil Air Patrol (C.A.P.) I saw an advertisement in the classifieds section of the Courier-Journal for an open house sponsored by Wings Flying Club. I went to the open house and met this gentleman to whom some questions about the flying club and the aircraft. The following month I tagged along with the flying club members on a tour of the Louisville Flight Service Station and Control Tower located at Bowman Field. This time I found myself standing behind the same gentlemen again, this time wearing he was wearing his leather flight jacket. He really did not pay too much attention to me. It was at this time I decided to join the flying club anyway. The third time I ran into this gentleman was at the Flying Club's monthly meeting held at the Aero Club. The gentleman I kept running into was Larry Herzog. This time we finally introduced ourselves to each other. I freaked out wondering what I got myself into after I asked him what he did for a living. His reply, I sell drugs. He said this with such a straight face. Later I learned it was the legal kind for Walgreens, he was a pharmacist. Larry always loved the element of surprise, especially when the surprise was on you. Larry is a graduate in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati. He graduated in 1961. I had no idea that Larry and I would eventually become the best of friends.
Later Larry became my Instrument Flight Instructor teaching me to fly aircraft solely by the instruments found on the panel in the cockpit. Larry was not an easy instructor. He taught students not only how to fly the aircraft, he made his students not only better, but safer pilots. He instilled in all of us the confidence needed to fly a complex piece of machinery without visual reference to the earth below. Every student Larry ever taught passed their check-ride on the first attempt, including me.
Looking back in my log book, my first flight with Larry as a flight instructor was on May 18, 1988. My second flight with Larry was to complete my initial checkout, and that was on May 25, 1988. This is when I began to learn just how devious Larry could be, smiling and laughing inside the whole time. First we flew over to Clark County airport for some touch and go's. Next he asked me to tune in the NDB radio (non-directional beacon, for all of the non-pilots this is a radio used for navigation to distant airports) so I could navigate to the Madison, Indiana airport. I turned the aircraft until the needle on the meter was straight up. During the flight to Madison, the needle never budged one iota to left or right. I thought I did a perfect job of keeping that needle straight up. After all, I found the Madison Airport. I even mentioned this to Larry. Unknown to me, Larry moved a switch on the radio which locked the needle in place. The needle would have never moved no matter what I did. Busted, Larry caught me off guard again! On the return trip back to Louisville he showed me why the needle never moved. Every opportunity that presented itself Larry found a situation where he could teach you something new.
Larry joined the Civil Air Patrol, known to us a C.A.P. on July 28, 1988. Just a few months after he and I met, however I did not join C.A.P. for another 10 years. Larry joined because C.A.P. needed orientation pilots for flying cadets at an encampment here in Kentucky. Immediately, Larry was appointed to the rank of Captain because was an FAA Flight Instructor. He remained a Captain for just over 14 years. Larry earned his Membership Ribbon on January 1, 1989, just over five months after he joined C.A.P. Larry never thought about advancing in rank. His service to C.A.P. during these fourteen years consisted mostly as a mission pilot, a transport mission pilot, a cadet orientation pilot, a Form 5 check pilot, a mission check pilot, and later as the Kentucky Wing Safety Officer.
With well over 2,000 hours as a pilot, Larry holds the highest pilot rating in the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Command Pilot. Larry loves flying, and he loved introducing cadets, and anyone else to the frills of flight. He flew every chance he got.
Larry had an accident which changed his life, which ultimately resulted in an early retirement from Walgreens. Sometime after this, he devoted much of his time the Civil Air Patrol, and advocating for people with disabilities.
During the early years following his accident, Larry added to his 101 Card many additional Emergency Services ratings. Initially, Larry was qualified as a Mission Scanner, Mission Observer, Mission Pilot, Transport Mission Pilot and Mission Safety Officer. He added more than 18 new qualifications from Mission Staff Assistant up through Incident Commander. He began the process by finding a replacement for Mission Safety Officer. That person was me.
I have many stories about Larry, possibly enough stories that I could write a book. Today I would like to share a few of these stories with you. I may not be 100 percent accurate as Larry would like me to be, nevertheless, the message will be accurate.
In the year 2000, C.A.P. celebrated its 60th anniversary. The Kentucky Wing planned a formal affair which was held at the museum located at Bluegrass Field in Lexington, KY. A few months prior to that, on a Sunday night I was working on Larry's computer. I was to be home by 6 PM that night to take my wife Dorothy out to dinner. As it happened, I did not finish working on Larry's computer, so he ordered Chinese in for himself, Ruth Ann and me. Then the phone rings while we are eating. It's my wife asking me if I had forgotten something. I was a little tongue tied at this point. Ruth Ann finally looked over at Larry and told him he owed Dorothy a dinner. Never missing a bite, he turned his face toward Ruth Ann, and in the most straight-laced and most serious look said, Are you and Keith coming to? Then he promptly went back to eating his meal.
As you can see, Larry loved the element of surprise. We were astounded at his remark. Larry ordered an extra pair of tickets to the 60th Civil Air Patrol dinner and tour of the aviation museum in Lexington to which Dorothy and I were invited. The cost of this free meal was a new dress and shoes for my wife, a tuxedo rental for me, and a motel room for the overnight stay.
Larry had a penchant for following the rules and all regulations. Every other year the Kentucky Wing goes through an Air Force evaluation to determine our fitness for continuing our search-and-rescue role as the Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The Civil Air Patrol is now a part of the First Air Force located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Each time during an evaluation we had not historically got our aircraft off the ground by 9 AM. Larry decided to fix this problem. He dispatched Major Tom Clark from Bowman Field with an air crew on a search and rescue mission. If I remember correctly, Tom was in the air around 7 AM, flew the mission and arrived at Mission Base in Frankfort, KY. before the start of the 8 AM briefing. The Air Force thought here we are again, no aircraft off the ground by 9 AM. Not true. Larry beat the 9 AM deadline and proved it. And there are many more stories like this is could tell..
The last search and rescue exercise where Larry was the incident commander in charge, was in August of 2013. On the last day of the exercise, I overheard a conversation between two of the three mission pilots who had just received their briefing for their flights. Two of the pilots started comparing notes and it finally dawned on them, two aircraft in the same search area, at the same time. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing as I already knew what Larry was doing in this scenario.
Doing search and rescue from an aircraft can be dangerous. Most of the time there is only one aircraft in the search area. Larry designed a way to put two, three, or even four aircraft into a search area safely. One of the pilots went back to the office to speak with Larry about his concern with two aircraft in the same search area at the same time. Larry assured him that he heard wrong. The mission piloted responded saying, I knew this was not true. Larry responded with, I'm putting three aircraft in the same search area at the same time. The expression on this pilot's face was priceless. I can assure you Larry would never do anything that is unsafe.
The last story I want to pass on to you all, as many of you may not be aware of his dedicated efforts to service. September 11, 2001- 9/11. This is Larry's most memorable experience while serving in the Civil Air Patrol. Larry was the mission pilot making two mercy flights. One flight with Tony Koenig, and the other with Kevin Fosberg, both former members of the Bowman Field Senior Squadron. Larry and his crews transported medical supplies such as thousands of scalpels and burns supplies, and other needed medical supplies from the Kentucky and Ohio area to Morristown, New Jersey. Other than the C.A.P. aircraft dispatched from a New York squadron taking photos of the fallen World Trade Center towers, Larry and his crew members were flying the only other civilian aircraft in the entire nation after the national airspace had been shut down by the FAA. Now, this is not without incident, or should I say incidents.
On one flight Larry and his mission observer flew over the spot where Flight 93 crashed. Flight 93 was the commercial airliner which did not reach its intended target. Low on fuel, Larry landed his aircraft at a nearby airport. It was late at night and he couldn't see the crash site due to the darkness. He was met by a deputy sheriff at the airport pointing a gun at Larry and his crew wanting to know why they flew over the crash site and just what was their intentions.
The return flight was not without incident either. If my memory serves me right, Larry and his observer experienced another event. Since the airspace is closed, there is literally no one communicating on the radio frequencies used by aircraft. It was just pure silence. Somewhere over Ohio Larry's flight was handed off from one air traffic controller to another, which is routine. This controller demanded to know what Larry was doing in his airspace.
In the cockpit, his observer changed one radio to talk on the emergency frequency, and was looking outside for fast movers. F15 or F16 jets flown by the United States Air Force. The only aircraft permitted to fly. He told his observer be prepared to slow this puppy down, a term Larry used quite often when speaking of small airplanes. Larry had the knack of slowing down an airplane, so slow while still flying that expressway traffic below is traveling faster.
When Larry asked the controller who wants to know? the controller said his boss wants to know. At last the supervisor was on the radio asking Larry the same question. Larry's final answer, the president authorized this flight. And indeed the president of the United States did sign off on this mercy flight.
Larry has also served in many positions at both the wing and squadron levels here in Kentucky. At wing he served as Wing Safety Officer, Chief of Staff for two wing commanders, a member of the wing finance committee, Form 5 and Mission Check Pilot, Stand-Eval Officer, director for the C.A.P. Counter-Drug program, as well as teaching classes for the Squadron Leadership School and the Corporate Learning Course, Unit Commanders course and also served as a Flight-Release-Officer.
Under Larry's directorship in the Counter-Drug program he brought structure and success back to the program. On days he put aircraft into the sky during the Counter Drug season, he rose up early in the morning, maybe 4 to 5 AM, checked the weather and other pertinent information for that day's activities.
Larry has been a member of the Bowman Field Senior Squadron also known as the 214 since April 1999. This is when the squadron was first reactivated after being previously shutdown. He is one of the original members of the new 214 squadron.
At the squadron level, he has served in many positions. He served as the deputy commander beginning when I was the squadron commander for the Bowman Field Senior Squadron almost 7 years ago, and continued under Captain Rick Billingsley, and finally for Major Hal Frary. Larry always supported me with the Professional Development program by performing Level 1 summary conversations with all new members. Level 1 is for acclimating new squadron members about the Civil Air Patrol. Additionally, he has trained many mission scanners, observers, and mission pilots. He also served on the squadron finance committee and ES training committee.
After remaining a Captain for 14 years, Larry completed both professional development levels 2 and 3 on March 31, 2003 earning the Leoning award for Level 2 and the Davis Award. After which he was promoted to the rank of Major.
In August, 2009, Larry and I traveled to Grissom Air Reserve Base located in Peru, Indiana where we completed Regional Staff College. The last training requirement for the Garber Award. On June 10, 2014 Larry was promoted to the highest rank of Lt Col.
At the 2015 Kentucky Wing conference held just last month, Larry received the Incident Command Staff award presented to him by Colonel Phelka, the Great Lakes Region Civil Air Patrol Commander and Colonel Jim Huggins, commander of the Kentucky Wing Civil Air Patrol.
During my many travels with Larry, mostly throughout Kentucky, some travel in Indiana, and even a trip to Oshkosh, I could not help learning what is like for a person with disabilities. I witnessed things a person with disabilities endured along with the many challenges they face. Larry was a staunch supporter of people with disabilities and the American Disabilities Act.
Many times his pet peeve involved handicap parking. I remember the story he told me about the time when he called the Louisville Metro Police to ticket a police car parked in a handicap space. But most of all, Larry never let his disabilities get in the way. This I got to see first-hand.
In closing, I want to leave you with four things Larry has given to me. First, What is wrong with this picture? Every time Larry has said this to me was my clue that something was not quite right and to start identifying a problem that needs fixing. Sometimes, we were not able to fix the problem as it was out of our control. Today I used this with my students
Next, RTQ. Read the question, then formulate the answer, and then read the answers. This really helps those of us who are students. This too, I use with my students.
Third, Learn the rules. Larry always read, studied and adhered to the rules. He learned to use the rules in his favor. He never broke the rules, and he did not bend the rules- but advocated for all.
Fourth, Larry has made me a staunch supporter of people with disabilities.
For me, this is the legacy Larry has left with me.
Lastly, Larry had four loves. First, there is his family, his wife Ruth Ann, his daughters Chris, Lisa and Sue, their spouses, and especially his seven grandchildren whom he loved and adored. I remember hearing about the many trips he made to see and spend time with his grandchildren and about the wonderful times he experienced during his visits.
Second was the love he had for others in his family, his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, and his in-laws. Larry was truly a family man putting his family first, especially when his daughter Sue was in an automobile accident.
His third love was flying. Earning his private pilot certificate in 1972 and subsequently spending 27 years providing service to C.A.P. and many more than that to the aviation community. Not only was he a C.A.P. member, he was also an aviation safety counselor for local Flight Standards district office here in Louisville, KY.
His fourth love was the Civil Air Patrol, especially the cadets. At some of the special C.A.P. functions I was able to attend over the past 16 years, I observed many cadets whom he helped give him hugs of appreciation and thanked him for the positive influence and impact he had on their lives. Recently, a former cadet, Adam McHone joined our squadron as a senior member who has told me how grateful he is for the help and guidance Larry gave to him as a cadet.
Larry created this huge extended family by adopting all of us into his family, a family that just kept growing larger and larger.
In closing, Larry has left a legacy that will go on living. Living in each of us forever and ever. A friendship like Larry's is worth more than all the gold and silver in the world.
Now as we go on our way, we can keep Larry's memory alive by remembering and telling others about all of those memorable times and experiences we had with Larry being a part of our life.

Steve Blanford RPh

October 20, 2015

Ruth Ann or Mamma as Mr Herzog would fondly call you when he was telling stories at the old Galene Dr Walgreens. Very nice and interesting man to work for and glad I was able to call him a friend all these years.

Ms. Nancy

October 20, 2015

Condolence to the family. I do not know Larry and have never done this before for a stranger but something about his face drew my attention to his obituary. I remember reading about the civilian aircraft bringing in supplies during the Sep.11, 2001 attacks. Its good to see a face from that mission. I'm sure you, his family,are very proud of him. And I'm sure he touched many hearts during his lifetime. He sounds like a good Christian man. May you rest in Peace "Larry".

Donna Leonard

October 20, 2015

My love, thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. In working with Lisa Waring for several years, I felt like I was a part of this family. Stay close to God, and he will provide you with the peace and comfort that can help sustain you through the upcoming days, week, months ahead.

Donna Leonard

Sept. 1, 2015 Flight Review A/C Lt. Col. Larry Herzog is back in the saddle

Larry Austin

October 19, 2015

Larry Austin

October 19, 2015

Memorial to Lt. Col. Larry Herzog KY 214
I met Larry sometime in 2002 or 2003. I had been in CAP a year or two in KY 63 Composite Squadron in Frankfort KY. My Squadron had a couple of pilots but none were CAP pilots. My Commander and I wanted us to get qualified as CAP pilots.
I decided to sit in on a couple of KY 214 meetings to find out how to become a CAP pilot. I asked several pilots what I needed to do to become a CAP pilot and received several suggestions, which did not work out.
I finally asked Larry Herzog what I needed to become a CAP pilot and got the correct information. I found that Larry Herzog was a walking, talking, CAP encyclopedia. Larry became my go to guy and my mentor. I never got a bad piece of information from Larry.
He was also a defender of his CAP members. If someone messed with a member about CAP policy, procedures, etc. and the member was right, you now had Larry Herzog to contend with. But on the other hand, Larry was also quick to inform you when you said or did something that was not right.
As Safety Officer, I would give safety presentations and state what I thought was correct CAP policy, procedure, or just my opinion on aviation, etc. Larry would let me know in a professional way if the information was not correct or why he felt that a different procedure was better.
I could always depend on Larry to enhance the safety presentation with his personal experiences of there I was and we all learned from Larry.
On Sept. 1, 2015, I was honored to fly with Larry for a Flight Review. 2.1 hours of flying and Larry performed faultlessly. It was great to see Larry back in the saddle and watch a professional pilot at work and thinking, man he still has it.
KY 214 and Wing has lost a very important CAP member and dear friend, but he will always be in our memories. Someday, the Lord willing, Larry and I will fly again. I know that after I am gone, I hope to enlist in God's Air Force so I can fly again with my friends.
Capt. Larry Austin KY 214

Wanda Suter

October 19, 2015

Dear Ruth Ann: So sorry for your loss. Larry was such a nice person to all and always had a smile to share. I know you will miss him greatly. Prayers for you and the family.

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