Lion of the Week

Robert Herbert

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Robert Herbert was born in Williamson County, Tennessee, in the Triune area. His father was Robert C. Herbert and his mother was Betty K. Bostick. While he was still in childhood his family moved to the Clovercroft Road area where he has lived most of his life. He graduated from High School at Franklin High School. His wife, the former Yvonne Potts, was his high school classmate. She too is a Williamson County Native. Robert is first cousin to Joe Herbert, the former Circuit Court Clerk and Wilson Herbert, one of the stalwart lions of the past.

They have one daughter, Cary Sawyer, who lives on Harding place in Nashville. Cary married Terry Sawyer who is an oral surgeon at Summit Hospital. They have three grandchildren. They see the grandchildren quite a bit. The oldest granddaughter, also named Cary, is a CPA. The middle grandchild, Robert, is a teacher of English at CPA and an assistant football coach. The youngest granddaughter, Sarah, is a student at UT in architecture. .

Robert worked quite a few years for Genesco. Then he want to work at Rose's dog food company on Trousdale Ave in Nashville. They still put out the product, but there is no longer much much distribution here. He was a salesman and the secretary of the company. Robert used to play a little golf. But now he enjoys having breakfast at Dotson's every morning with the early group that comes in there. He has been doing that since 1958. He goes there every morning at a quarter to seven. The waitresses start taking orders about 7:00.

He was in the service for 46 months. During WWII he landed on the coast of France and went into Belgium and the Netherlands. He was a supply Sgt, so he did not personally have combat. But there were many there in combat. He was close to the combat zones many times.

Robert's wife, Yvonne, has been a house wife during the marriage, but has been very active in the Republican Party of Williamson County. She has done that ever since she was in High School.. She came from a family of Republicans. In the old days there were not many Republicans in Williamson County.

Robert has been a Lion since 1984. He was brought in by Wilson Herbert. The service that he has performed for all these years is picking up glasses from the collection boxes. The boxes are located in Wal-Mart, in Sam's, at City Hall in Franklin, at the County Center, and there is one at the factory. Some are small boxes. The ones at Wal-Mart are the small boxes. He used to go about twice per week. After he collects them he gives them to Millard Jefferson who prepares them to ship.

Someone else is now picking up the glasses. He told that person where they all were. Robert, until the last few months, came to the meetings early and put all the name tags out on the counter. Members have always been happy to see Robert, who was usually there waiting for them when they arrived.

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