Herman Brockman Obituary

Farm Boy Makes Good!

Herman Eldon Brockman -- farm boy, Distinguished Professor of Genetics at Illinois State University, and lover of trees, grammar, and Pogo -- died at home on April 8, 2025 in the presence of 25 family members, ranging in age from 90 years (his wife Marlene) to 3 weeks (great-grand-daughter Hina Marlene).

Herman was born in his family's farmhouse in rural Danforth, IL, in the same room that his father Fred had been born. As he wrote in the preface to his essay collection Trees I Have Known, "I loved being a farm boy and helping Dad in all the farm activities I could do at any given age. And I loved learning from Mother to notice and love the natural world." Herman helped his father with the many farm chores, including milking cows by hand. Later, as part of the local 4-H Club, and then in high school FFA, he continued his love of animal husbandry and farming.

After earning his B.A. from Blackburn College in 1956, he earned his M.S. from Northwestern University in 1957, and his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 1960. He was then awarded a 3-year post doctoral research fellowship in the Biology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

In 1963, Herman joined the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University where he taught and directed research for 13 Ph.D., 22 Master's, and numerous undergraduate students. Among the many awards and honors Herman earned over his professional life are:

- Environmental Mutagenesis Recognition Award from the Environmental Mutagen Society, 1982

- IL State University Distinguished Professor, 1982

- Outstanding Teacher Award from I.S.U., 1998

- Illinois State University College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, 2009

- Blackburn College Wall of Honor, 2016

But of these and many other honors, he was most proud of receiving the FFA (Future Farmers of America) Star State Farmer award in 1951.

After retiring from I.S.U. in 1998, Herman tended his small herd of cattle and wrote essays that he eventually collected in Trees I Have Known, which serves as an informal autobiography and is available at www.online-tribute.com/herman-brockman. On that site you may also leave the family your memories and rsvp for the Herman Brockman Memorial Tree Walk and Celebration of Life on August 30.

Memorial donations may be made to the Herman E. Brockman Fund at Illinois State University, or to the Aldo Leopold Foundation. You may also make a donation in Herman's name to an environmental or social justice organization of your choice.

Or you may simply remember Herman by indulging in one of his favorite treats: beer nuts, beer, tapioca pudding, chocolate ice cream, or his beloved black cows (aka root beer floats).