Clancy Herbst at home in 2021 for a Denver Post story.
Photo by: Denver Post
Clancy Herbst Passes Away
June 28, 2023 | General, Herbst Academic Center
Athletics’ Academic Support Program Has Long Been Named In His Honor
BOULDER — Clarence "Clancy" Herbst, Jr., a longtime University of Colorado, devout supporter of athletics, a CU Foundation trustee and its former director and board chair, passed away on June 21. He was 95.
A three-time letterman at Colorado in swimming from 1947 through 1949 with his specialty the breaststroke, Herbst was the retired chairman and CEO of Resinoid Engineering (which mostly manufactured automotive industry products). The Herbst family have been philanthropic leaders at the University of Colorado for many decades, especially when it comes to academics. One of their most recent passions have included supporting U.S. military veterans seeking a higher education degree at UCCS.
One of the all-time generous donors to the University of Colorado system, the Herbst Academic Center in the Dal Ward Athletic Center in Boulder and the McCord-Herbst Student Veterans Center at the CU campus in Colorado Springs are named for him. He also established the Herbst Humanities Program in CU Boulder's College of Engineering.
"Clancy Herbst was very passionate about the University of Colorado and CU athletics," said CU athletic director Rick George. "His unwavering support of the Herbst Academic Center has propelled our academic success to historic levels."
A life-long supporter of the athletic program in Boulder, he took great interest in elevating the academics. The school recently set new bests in grade point averages for its 360-plus student-athletes, with high graduation rates, largely because of the staff in the Herbst Academic Center, which was named for him in 2001. At the school's annual athletic academic breakfast, one of the most prestigious awards is the Clancy A. Herbst, Jr. Student-Athlete Achievement Award, presented to those student-athletes who overcome personal, academic or emotional challenges difficulties to succeed both academically and athletically.
Many of the recipients of his award are familiar names to CU fans, including Medford Moorer, Derek McCartney and Jarek Broussard (football), Evan Battey, Linda Lappe and Brittany Spears (basketball), Jana Rehemaa-Weinberger (skiing) and Derek Tolan (golf).
"Clancy was a great friend of ours in the Herbst Academic Center," said Kris Livingston, CU's executive senior associate ad for student success. "He loved to hear the success stories of the student-athletes in the classroom and would join us at our annual academic breakfast. He was very proud and most sincere that we celebrated their academic achievements."
Among his many honors, Herbst was a recipient of the University Medal, the CU Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, the Ira C. Rothgerber Volunteer Service Award, and the CU Athletic Hall of Honor Award. He was honored as "Living Legend" by the University of Colorado Alumni C Club in 1997, and he was awarded an Honorary Degree and Doctorate of Humane Letters from CU Denver in 1995.
Herbst, who was living in Aspen, is survived by his wife Linda, two children, Cathy Herbst Lindholm and Casey Herbst; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A daughter, Nancy, preceded him in death. A celebration of his life will be planned at a later date.
"It's my university, I loved it, it gave me a good education," Herbst told the Denver Post in 2021. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Engineering.
Herbst often shared his life lessons when he spoke to younger audiences. They were:
A three-time letterman at Colorado in swimming from 1947 through 1949 with his specialty the breaststroke, Herbst was the retired chairman and CEO of Resinoid Engineering (which mostly manufactured automotive industry products). The Herbst family have been philanthropic leaders at the University of Colorado for many decades, especially when it comes to academics. One of their most recent passions have included supporting U.S. military veterans seeking a higher education degree at UCCS.
One of the all-time generous donors to the University of Colorado system, the Herbst Academic Center in the Dal Ward Athletic Center in Boulder and the McCord-Herbst Student Veterans Center at the CU campus in Colorado Springs are named for him. He also established the Herbst Humanities Program in CU Boulder's College of Engineering.
"Clancy Herbst was very passionate about the University of Colorado and CU athletics," said CU athletic director Rick George. "His unwavering support of the Herbst Academic Center has propelled our academic success to historic levels."
A life-long supporter of the athletic program in Boulder, he took great interest in elevating the academics. The school recently set new bests in grade point averages for its 360-plus student-athletes, with high graduation rates, largely because of the staff in the Herbst Academic Center, which was named for him in 2001. At the school's annual athletic academic breakfast, one of the most prestigious awards is the Clancy A. Herbst, Jr. Student-Athlete Achievement Award, presented to those student-athletes who overcome personal, academic or emotional challenges difficulties to succeed both academically and athletically.
Many of the recipients of his award are familiar names to CU fans, including Medford Moorer, Derek McCartney and Jarek Broussard (football), Evan Battey, Linda Lappe and Brittany Spears (basketball), Jana Rehemaa-Weinberger (skiing) and Derek Tolan (golf).
"Clancy was a great friend of ours in the Herbst Academic Center," said Kris Livingston, CU's executive senior associate ad for student success. "He loved to hear the success stories of the student-athletes in the classroom and would join us at our annual academic breakfast. He was very proud and most sincere that we celebrated their academic achievements."
Among his many honors, Herbst was a recipient of the University Medal, the CU Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, the Ira C. Rothgerber Volunteer Service Award, and the CU Athletic Hall of Honor Award. He was honored as "Living Legend" by the University of Colorado Alumni C Club in 1997, and he was awarded an Honorary Degree and Doctorate of Humane Letters from CU Denver in 1995.
Herbst, who was living in Aspen, is survived by his wife Linda, two children, Cathy Herbst Lindholm and Casey Herbst; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A daughter, Nancy, preceded him in death. A celebration of his life will be planned at a later date.
"It's my university, I loved it, it gave me a good education," Herbst told the Denver Post in 2021. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Engineering.
Herbst often shared his life lessons when he spoke to younger audiences. They were:
- The possessions you accumulate will, in reality, possess you. The only things of value are true friends, and personal self-esteem;
- Enjoy the journey of life day by day;
- Stay positive, keep an open mind, and help others;
- Decide where you would like to live and then find a job there;
- Listen, listen, listen. You don't learn when you are the one talking;
- Seek the big picture. Don't be overwhelmed by the world's noise;
- Take lots of pictures, save them, particularly of people. You will cherish them later in life;
- Work and lead by consensus since all of your associates' views have value;
- Mistakes happen, learn from them;
- Travel, particularly overseas, if you can.
- Listen, listen, listen. You don't learn if you're the one talking.
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