Herbert W. Backes Jr. ’37

ENTHUSIASTIC PRINCETONIAN, muchdecorated U. Col. Herb Backes died Feb. 13, 1991, of lung cancer in Lambertville, NJ. At Andover Herb was on the wrestling and track teams and majored in economics at Princeton. He was a member of Key and Seal.

After four years as sales manager of the Delaware Floor Products in Wilmington, Herb embarked on an army career 19411946, with 18 months overseas and one year in combat as assistant operations officer with the eighth infantry Division in Europe in the E.T.O. and then field artillery, earning five battle stars and a Bronze Star. In 1950 he was recalled for service in Korea (accompanied by brother Bob '39 "for winter sports"), and after a year's combat duty, was discharged, with three more battle stars and the Legion of Merit and the Army Commendation Ribbon in Korea.

Next came activity as a poultry wholesaler, including selling to several clubs on Prospect, and as salesman of the Tattersall Co. of JohnsManville home insulation. He then bought a farm in East Aurora and became a purchasing agent for Delevan Electronics, coil manufacturers. He was forced into semiretirement in 1956 due to ill health, but continued working as treasurer for Willink Real Estate, until final retirement in 1980.

Herb married Mary MacDonald in 1938 and produced Bonnie and Herb III (now deceased). He married the late Kitty Tindall in 1951, with stepson Jud '67.

The Class of 1937