George Herrmann For more than 30 years, George Herrmann's life has revolved around two pursuits: operating his family's feed store and volunteering for the Spring Ho Festival.

Herrmann, owner of Herrmann Feed & Supply, will observe the annual celebration from a slightly different perspective this year as marshal of the Spring Ho Grand Parade.

A 1969 graduate of Lampasas High School, Herrmann has lived and worked his whole life in Lampasas. His father, the late Joe D. Herrmann, began a business partnership in 1947 with Glynn C. Perkins. The Glynn C. Perkins Co. -- formerly located on East Second Street across from what is now an AT&T building -- sold wool, mohair, pecans, feed and hides.

George Herrmann remembers his father driving into Lampasas during the Mother's Day flood of 1957 and throwing feed sacks up against the doors of his business in an attempt to keep out the rain.

Joe Herrmann and Perkins separated their businesses in the early 1960s, and Herrmann began specializing in feed. Herrmann Feed & Supply moved in 1963 to its current location on Pecan Street.

While his older brother, Paul Herrmann, often worked at the store as a youth, George Herrmann focused his energy on showing Hereford steers. He entered his first livestock show as a seventhgrader and later won several major shows. He claimed the title at Fort Worth in 1967 and 1968, nabbed reserve champion honors at Dallas in 1967, and won at Odessa in 1968.

Herrmann did not have to think hard about entering the feed business. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973 with an animal science degree. The Monday after his Saturday graduation ceremony, he reported to work at Herrmann Feed & Supply.

"I never really wanted to do anything else, I suppose," he said.

George Herrmann took ownership of the feed store in 1983 and still works alongside family members. His brother Paul, a retired attorney, works at the store, as does their mother, Dorothy Herrmann. Longtime bookkeeper for the feed store, Mrs. Herrmann continues to assist with the family business.

Although Herrmann manages a steady pace of work as store owner, winters typically bring a flood of customers, as ranchers' cattle feed needs increase and deer season attracts hunters from across the state to Lampasas County.

Genetic advances, nutritional improvements and high fencing have made hunting a more scientific and competitive undertaking, Herrmann said. The store owner has seen landowners' approaches to game management change, as many landowners now seek nutritional products for their deer.

"It continually grows and becomes more and more yearround," Herrmann said. "It's gotten to be a big business now."

While running a family business has been rewarding, Herrmann also said the store and his Angus ranch near Bend leave him little time for other hobbies.

A former competitive team roper, Herrmann believes his days as a heeler -- which took him all across Texas, as well as to events in New Mexico -- have ended.

"I really enjoyed it," he said, "but it takes a lot of time, dedication and practice. It's expensive. Very few people make money team roping. It's more of a hobby."

While rodeos no longer consume his time, Herrmann continues to pour his energy into Spring Ho. He volunteered as part of the Spring Ho Committee from 1976-78 and served on the festival's board of directors in the early 2000s. Herrmann also has helped coordinate the grand parade for more than 20 years, driving judges to various locations to evaluate parade entries.

"It's a real tight time slot," Herrmann said of judging, which typically takes place within one hour, ending shortly before the parade begins. "I'm the one who goes, 'Hurry up, hurry up. We've got to go.'

"By the time it's over I'm a total wreck," he added.

As parade marshal, Herrmann will be riding in his first Spring Ho Grand Parade since 1978. He expects a slightly more leisurely day this time.

"I won't have to get up as early," Herrmann said.

The parade marshal has seen several changes to Spring Ho over the years, including a move from three street dances to two each festival and the addition of Gospel Night, a fireworks show, a barbecue cookoff and washer pitching contests.

"They've just spread it out so much more to involve more people," Herrmann said.

Class reunions -- 13 are planned during Spring Ho this year -- complement the festival and boost Lampasas businesses, he said, by drawing former residents back to town. His class expects about 80 people at its 40th reunion.

"That brings a lot of people back," Herrmann said. "[Spring Ho] gives the whole population of the town a lot of pride."

Spring Ho creates an incentive to make aesthetic improvements in Lampasas, Herrmann said, and the businessman praised the work of both city crews and Spring Ho volunteers who labor to prepare for the annual event.

"I'm very proud of Spring Ho," Herrmann said. "I think it's probably one of the most successful festivals in the state.

"We were kind of flying by the seat of our pants in the '70s," the parade marshal added. "It's now a very well-oiled, professional busi- ness."

Improvements in Spring Ho have mirrored what Herrmann considers other advances for Lampasas: the city's designation as a Main Street community, business growth and diversification on Key Avenue, and the revitalization of downtown.

Efforts to clean up and enliven the downtown area particularly have rejuvenated Lampasas, Herrmann said. "I think it just brought a community-wide sense of pride."

As much as he loves Lampasas' buildings and traditions, however, Herrmann finds his greatest joy in the people he has known for decades.

Some of his customers represent the fourth generation to shop at Herrmann Feed & Supply, a fact that makes the store owner feel old at times. Mostly, though, it makes him feel proud.

"There's a lot of good people here," Herrmann said.