Furman mourns the passing of Emeritus Trustee Gordon Herring ’65

Furman University Emeritus Trustee Gordon Herring ’65 passed away on March 14.

Herring graduated from Furman in 1965 and earned a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Virginia in 1970. During his time at Furman, he was a dedicated member of the Furman Singers, and after his graduation, the Furman Singers Alumni Association.

He served in the U.S. Army for three years, attaining the rank of captain. Herring then joined TeleCable Corporation in 1970 as director of research, and went on to become director of marketing and then regional operations manager in 1975, vice president in 1980, and executive vice president in 1989.

A leader in the cable television industry, Herring served on the operating committee of Viewers’ Choice, as a founding member of the board of directors of Cable Television Administration & Marketing Society, and as a member of the National Affiliates Marketing Advisory Committee of Home Box Office. He was also one of the founders of The Weather Channel.

Herring was a former trustee of Averett College, a former member of Furman’s Advisory Council, a past chair of the Furman Board of Trustees, and a founding member of Furman’s Benefactors Circle. He chaired the Campaign Executive Committee for the Forever Furman Campaign and served on the Hollingsworth Funds Board.

Herring received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Furman in 1991. In 1992, he was awarded the National Cable Television Association Vanguard Award for Marketing.

Herring and his wife, Sarah ’66, have been generous donors to Furman for many years. In 2020, they donated $6.1 million to the Furman Department of Music to establish the Herring Music Chair Endowment and the Herring Music Fellowship Fund. They also gave $1.8 million to build the Herring Center for Lifelong Learning and $1.25 million toward the Nan Trammell Herring Music Pavilion.