WMU Faculty Member, Aircraft Mechanic and Pilot
WMU College of Aviation Hall of Honor Class of 2013
Herm Linder was born in Washington, Illinois and began a lifelong love for aviation by building radio controlled model airplanes. As he grew older and obtained the necessary education and certifications he began teaching aviation to others. He introduced aviation into his high school shop classes in Champaign, IL followed by teaching college level students at the U of I, Institute of Aviation. He joined the WMU aviation program in 1970 where he served until his retirement in 1985. Favorite sayings of his: “Always look where the light is the brightest first” and “You have to out mechanic it”. Favorite sayings of others: “He talked tough and had high standards but he was a softy at heart” and “He had so much fun teaching kids because he loved with a passion what he taught and he loved sharing it with his students.” Upon his retirement, he founded the Herman W. Linder Endowed Scholarship for outstanding aviation maintenance students at Western Michigan University.