"Herm the Sign Man"

[mlcraven]

Wonderfuly story about Herm and Mrs Herm. I suppose the mating of digital and vinyl technology have all but killed the old-school sign/lettering artist trade?

[BigDad]

Neat George !!

[DanStokes]

Good story and great cars. Thanks for the post.

Dan

[200WINS]

Here is the story about Herm.....

Herman and LaVerne Griller met during the Great Depression. Herm
was a native of Sioux Falls. He grew up in the “Northend” and attended
Cathedral High School. Upon graduation, he secured a position with the
“Milwaukee Road”, selling tickets at the depot at Fourth and Phillips.
LaVerne was born in Eagle and graduated from Kimball High School.
She moved to Sioux Falls in 1933, and got a job at Henry Field Store to
earn money to go to beauty school. The store was a few blocks south of
the depot, a place where Herm sometimes stopped to get lunch. After he
met LaVerne, he stopped more often!
The young couple courted and made plans for the future. Herm, skilled
in lettering and penmanship, left his job and joined a local signmaker. The work suited him. In
1937, wanting to improve his technique, he decided to head for California and asked LaVerne to join
him. Their first stop was at Murdo, where they married.
Herm’s talent and LaVerne’s faith in him paid off. He became “Herm the Sign Man” with a shop at
Eighth and Franklin. His services were in demand statewide. LaVerne eventually left her position
with Fantle’s Department store to run Herm’s office from their home.
Partners in all that they did, the Grillers had been married 67 years when Herm passed away in
2004. LaVerne lived another seven years and made provisions in her will to create this scholarship
through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation

[200WINS]

A friend of mine sent this to me including these pictures of some local race cars. Sign painting and pin striping is becoming a lost art. I did not know Herm, however the story and pictures are cool.