Lawrence "Herkie" Russell Herkimer

Herkie “Herkie jumped” into heaven on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 with spirit and joy. Born in Muskegon, Michigan October 14, 1925 to Mrs. Lenola Gilfus Herkimer and Nilan Frank Herkimer. Moved to Dallas in 1929 with his parents and sisters Lenna and Bonnie. Herkie attended Vickery Place Elementary School and North Dallas High School where he was a cheerleader, and Southern Methodist University where he was head cheerleader and a gymnast, graduating in 1948. He received his B.S. Degree at SMU and his M.S. Degree at the University of Illinois. Herkie served in the US Navy during WWII on the USS Jamestown (a PT Tender) and later on a P.T. Boat from December 1943 to March of 1946.

Herkie taught at SMU for two years prior to starting the National Cheerleaders Association, which trained cheerleaders during weeklong camps in the summer and one-day clinics during the fall and spring. Herkie invented the cheerleader “Pom-Pon” and held a patent on it for many years. He also created the “Herkie Jump”, a well-known cheerleader move. His wife, Dorothy, started the Cheerleader Supply Company in 1951 and designed the first 16-pleat “twirling” cheerleader skirt. The company expanded to knitting sweaters, manufacturing tops, jackets, Chenille emblems, pom-pons, buttons, badges, pennants, ribbons, etc. and the cheer camps spread to all 50 states and several foreign countries, training more than three million cheerleaders over the next 43 years, prior to selling the company.

Herkie served on the Dallas Independent School Board for two terms and was President of the Dallas Civic Garden Center, the SMU Alumni Association, served on the Board of TACA, Northwood Institute, the Development Board of Presbyterian Hospital and the SMU Mustang Club. Herkie served on the Board of Trustees of the Hockaday School where he chaired the grounds committee during the expansion of the Lower School and addition of the Science Building. His honors include receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU, YMCA Father of the Year, Mr. Gatsby (Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden) and others too numerous to mention here. He was passionate about education. He and his wife, Dorothy, established the Herkimer Scholars Program at SMU, which put over 40 students through 4 years at SMU. Herkie served on education committees during the Eisenhower Administration as a consultant to the State of Hawaii and the Reagan Administration on the Fulbright Scholarship Committee.

Herkie appeared on numerous National Television programs including “What’s My Line”, “To Tell the Truth” and “Truth or Consequences” with Bob Barker, Good Morning America and featured in dozens of programs and interviews here and abroad, along with numerous articles in newspapers and magazines.

Herkie loved golf and was at times a member at Glen Lakes C.C., Royal Oaks C.C, Bent Tree C.C., the Northwood Club and Preston Trails in Dallas and Turnberry Isle C.C. in Aventura, Florida. He was a Life Member of the Dallas Salesmanship Club.

Herkie is survived by three daughters, Marilyn Herkimer Weber, Sharon Herkimer Dewberry and Carolyn Herkimer Cooper, along with seven grandchildren, Bennett Ross Weber III, Harriet Tatum Weber, Michael Herkimer Dewberry, Emily Dorothy Dewberry, Lawrence Crawford Cooper, Christopher Russell Cooper and Allison Herkimer Cooper, sons-in-law Bennett Ross Weber, Jr. and Robert Bruce Dewberry, all of Dallas, his sister, Bonnie Richards of Ft. Worth, and various nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Daddy’s loving and dedicated caregivers Patsita Harris, Ingrid Moss, Elleanor Spence, Norris Cooley and the Coast To Coast Agency.

The memorial service of celebration will be held Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in the main sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205 with reception following. Visitation at Sparkman Hillcrest is scheduled Wednesday, July 8, 2015 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Memorials can be made to the Dallas Salesmanship Club, 106 E. 10th Street, Dallas, TX 75203; Southern Methodist University Mustang Club, P O Box 750315, Dallas, TX 75275-0315; YMCA, 601 N Akard, Dallas, TX 75201; The Hockaday School, 11600 Welch Road, Dallas, TX 75229 or the charity of your choice.