Howard David Hermansdorfer ’53

Dave, a retired US district judge who was appointed to the bench by Pres. Richard Nixon in 1972, died Nov. 17, 2003, in his Ashland, Ky., home.

Coming from Huntington, W. Va., where he had graduated from the local high school, Dave's field of study was English and his eating club was Campus. Senior year roommate Christopher Webber recalls that the love of Dave's life was Vassar student Sally Powell, whom he dated while on campus and married in 1954.

Dave spent three years in Army intelligence and finished U. Va. law school in 1959. He then went back to Ashland to hang out his shingle. He was prominent in the Republican party and became a director of the National City Bank. The family lived on a farm that gave Dave much happiness. Back problems eventually led to surgery that necessitated relinquishing his judgeship.

He returned to private practice and found it "ever-changing and challenging." He gave sound advice on local governmental issues. Sixth US Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Eugene Siler said Dave was "an excellent judge and just a super person." We echo these sentiments and offer our sympathy to Sally, sons John David and Mark Douglas, daughter Katharine Cordle, sister Helen, and seven grandchildren.

The Class of 1953