Herman J. Lang

LANG Herman J. Herman J. Lang, 93, died at his Sylvania home on October 6, 2007, after a brief illness. He was born to Ida (Cherry) and Herman C. Lang in Michaw, Ohio (now Sylvania Township) on November 16, 1913. A retired golf professional, Herman began his golf career at age eleven as a caddy at Sylvania Country Club. Three years later, he started caddying at Highland Meadows Golf Club. He also worked in the pro shop for the head professional, Duke Snyder. When Mr. Snyder moved, Herman became an assistant to Duke's successor, Jimmy Cromb. Upon Mr. Cromb's departure from Highland Meadows, Herman (at age twenty) became the club's head professional. Herman stayed in that capacity until he went to Inverness Club as an assistant to Byron Nelson in 1941. Herman briefly played the tour in the autumn of 1941. From 1942 to 1946, Herman served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant. Following World War II, he returned to Highland Meadows as its head professional and remained there until he accepted the head pro position at Inverness Club in 1966. During his tenure at Inverness, the Club played host to both the US Amateur and US Open. Herman retired at the end of 1980, but continued to give lessons until 2000. He last taught at The Legacy in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. Herman was a fine player in his own right winning various Northern Ohio PGA tournaments as well as being a two-time Toledo Open winner. He was a member of the Toledo Golf Hall of Fame, a member of the Northern Ohio Senior PGA Hall of Fame, and a former Club Pro of the Year in the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA. He was also the recipient of the Burt Silverman Award, the Glass Key to Toledo, and the Inverness Clock Award. Herman was a Life Member of the Western Golf Association Par Club, a Life Member of the PGA, and an honorary member of both Inverness Club and Highland Meadows Golf Club. In addition, he belonged to the Zenobia Shrine, the American Legion and the Masons. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Neva; daughter, Debbie (Sylvania); sister-in-law, Wynn Plush (Colorado Springs) and many nieces and nephews. Herman was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Irwin and his sisters, Emma, Mary, Myrtle and Jeannette. The family asks that those who wish to honor Herman consider the Evans Scholar Foundation (Western Golf Association), the Community of Christ Church (Sylvania), Visiting Nurse Hospice (Maumee) or a charity of the donor's choice. Friends may join the family at Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, OH on Tuesday, October 9 from 12:00 p.m. until the Funeral Service begins at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.reebfuneralhome.com