Ron Herrin, 67, of Benton, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11, 1997 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.  Services at First United Methodist Church in Benton with Rev. Randy Grimmett officiating.  Burial in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

Herrin was born Feb. 27, 1930 in Friendsville, the son of Homer and Florence (Heckler) Herrin. He married Mary Lou Hard May 21, 1952.

Herrin started school in Dieterich and moved to Flat Rock then St. Francisville and later graduated from Junior High School. He graduated from Bridgeport Township High School in 1948 where he played football, basketball and track and was All Conference in basketball.

In 1952 Herrin graduated from McKendree College, where he played football, basketball and track. He won 10 letters for participating in sports and was named All Conference in football. After college he served two years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, Ga., where he obtained the rank of Sergeant.

Herrin started his coaching career at Labanon Junior High School. He then coached five years at Freeburg where his team won second place at state in baseball. After coaching 25 years at East Richland High School, he then coached five years at Benton High School, one year at Rend Lake College and six years at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He won over 500 games as a high school basketball coach.

He was the Executive Secretary and Past President of the I.B.C.A. He was a charter inductee at McKendree College. He was also inducted in to the I.B.C.A. Hall of Fame.

He was an Eagle Scout, member of the Benton Lion's Club, member and supporter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Benton and president of the Methodist Men's Club.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Sara Herrin of Chicago, Sue Vennard and Kim Herrin both of St. Louis; and one son, Jim Herrin of Springfield; five grandchildren, Matthew, Michelle, Melissa, Nicholas and Benjamin; and one brother, Rich Herrin of Carterville.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - May 12, 1997