Eugene Herman

Eugene M. (Gene) Herman, 82, Lee’s Summit, MO. passed away June 1, 2010, in his home. Services will be 12:00 p.m., Friday at the Speaks Suburban Chapel. Private family interment will be in Floral Hills Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 10:30 until service time Friday at the chapel. He was born to very proud parents, Karl and Betty Herman in Kansas City, Missouri. Gene was a devoted Son, Husband, Father, and Grandfather, and a special friend to many. During Gene’s youth, Gene and his family lived in many places from Kansas City, MO to Tuscan, Arizona. After returning back to Kansas City he attended Fairview Grade School, and then graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1945. After High School he served in the United States Navy from 1946-1947 in the Medical Corp as Hospital Apprentice 1st Class. After leaving the Navy he attended Kansas City University where he received his B.A. Degree in Economics, he was also a member of The Bounder Fraternity. He married Joyce Aszmus, July 28, 1951, and had their precious baby girl, Janet, in 1956. Gene and Joyce along with his Sister and Brother-in-Law became owners of their successful family business, U-Smile Motor Hotel (Later Best Western Stadium Inn), where they all shared hard work and memories. Gene was thrilled when their daughter married, and gave them two handsome Grandson’s, Jeffrey and Jack, which finally gave Gene more men in the family then women. Gene, His Father, Uncles, and Cousins developed Crackerneck Country Club in Independence, Missouri. Gene served as President of the Corporate Board of the Country Club that was built on his Grandparents Family Farm. He served as National President of The Motel Association of America, Board Member of the National Restaurant Association, President of the Kansas City and Missouri Hotel Association. He was regional Governor of Best Western Motels and was a Board Member of the KC Tourist and Convention Bureau, the Kansas City and Independence Chamber of Commerce, American Royal Board of Governors, KC Mayor Corp of Progress. Gene was named “Man of the Year” of the Missouri Hotel Association in 1979. He was a faithful Democrat, an avid golfer and fisherman, all taught to him by his Dad. He loved cars from the time he was a young boy. His favorite cars were Classic or Packards, which he restored. He was a member of the Mid-America Packard and The National Packard Club. His Packard’s made many trips around the United State with his Packard Club Friends. He drove Buck O’Neil and his wife around Royals Stadium in his 1938 Packard Convertible, George Brett and his family in his Royal Blue 1953 Caribbean when he went into the Hall of Fame, and Whitey Herzog also in the Royal Blue Caribbean when he was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Betty Herman, and infant daughter Jane. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter and son-in-law Janet and John Franklin, Grandsons Jeffrey Herman Franklin and John Hall Franklin Jr., Sister and Brother-in-Law, Joan and Jim Brettell, Tyler, Texas. Special cousins Art and Mary Ann Goodell, his nieces, nephew, and many cousins. Please omit Flowers, donate to Charity of your choice or Multiple Sclerosis National Society, 7611 State Line Suite 101, KCMO 64114.