With loving care, James L. Herbert (’62) sowed seeds of generosity that continue to grow and impact Volunteers across the University of Tennessee.
Herbert, a successful businessman and proud UT alumnus with roots in agriculture, passed away on March 16 at the age of 83.
In 2018, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources was renamed the Herbert College of Agriculture in honor of Herbert and his wife, Judi (’63), following a transformational gift that has ensured generations to come will be able to receive an unsurpassed agricultural education. They also support agricultural research and extension services as well as the Herbert Scholars Program, which provides financial assistance to undergraduates from the college for summer experiential learning opportunities outside of Knoxville.
“Jim Herbert loved the University of Tennessee — and it always showed,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “He was generous with his time, his support and his leadership. He was an advocate for higher education and a role model for all Volunteers. In addition to his generous support for agriculture, he and Judi supported many parts of the university, including the College of Arts and Sciences. He will be deeply missed and his legacy will live on in the thousands of lives he impacted.”
UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver called Herbert an “outstanding ambassador for the use of technology to improve lives.”
“We will miss his energy, tireless support of agriculture and friendly spirit,” Carver said.
Please read more about the life and philantropy of Jim Herbert online here.