Cathedral Prep has a long tradition of shaping young men and women into successful individuals, and Bill Herring, a member of the Class of 1958, is no exception.  

Before High school, Herring attended Saint Anne’s School, and when he saw his friends and classmates heading to Prep, he did so as well. So the adjustment was natural. Prep was a time of discipline, studies, and plenty of humor during his time there. One of his favorite memories was taking Greek class, which had a maximum of five students. Because of the small class size, class turned into a fun time for him and classmates and something to enjoy and laugh at.   

Herring remembers his Prep years with a disciplined but strict environment. Possibly the best-known individual during that time was Monsignor McDonald, the principal. He was a man with strict rules, such as the height at which the shades on the windows of the classroom were to be rolled up. He was reportedly protective of the football players, at least through the final stage of the season, when he would turn abruptly on them as on everybody else. 

After graduation, Herring turned into a professional musician as an organist and choir director. He was educated in music, voice, and choir conducting, and he even performed on the organ at Prep for four years. Music became his greatest interest, and he credits Prep with preparing him for his future. He also confesses that Prep instilled discipline in him, which served as a great asset in college and in his career as well. 

One of the best things about Prep, Herring liked to say, was the school spirit, especially during football season. He remembers attending games at the stadium and the excitement of playing against Prep’s nemesis at the time, Technical Memorial High School (Tech). They would scrap over “the little brown jug,” a prize the two schools fought for. Students would gather on the street corners prior to the big game of the year and yell back and forth at each other, although they were never allowed to fight or cross the street.  

“Football games were the highlight of the year,” Herring said. “Everyone was involved, and you could sense the enthusiasm throughout the school.” 

Prep has actually transformed quite a lot throughout the years. When Herring attended, most of the instructors were priests, nuns, and coaches. The campus itself has also expanded with additional buildings, including the Science Wing, which was under construction when he attended. He re

members that for two years, students were dismissed early at 2:00 p.m. because of the noise from the building—a memory which he and his friends were more than happy about. 

Even though it’s been a great number of years since he graduated from Prep, Herring is still close with his fellow Prep alums. He meets up every month with a group of Prep graduates for lunch, and friendships that were born at Prep lasted a lifetime. He even went to the seminary following high school, and he quickly befriended 12 other students there. Those bonds were like being part of family. 

Some of Bill’s finest laughs were memories of the trouble he and his friends got into. One day, students edged a nun’s desk slowly forward a few inches 

at a time until she was wedged against the blackboard. Another day, his class perpetrated a harmless prank on a teacher by humming softly when the cathedral bells rang out, confusing her until she understood what was happening. These were some of the carefree times that made Prep such a positive and enjoyable experience for him. Herring’s experience at Prep was full with learning, discipline, and life-long friendships. Tuition back in his days at Prep was merely $25 per year in stark contrast to tuition costs these days. Looking back, he appreciates all Prep did for him and encourages students to make the best of their experience at Prep.  

“Prep gives you opportunities that you don’t even realize at the time,” he said. “Take advantage of them, because one day, you’ll look back and see how much it helped you.”