January 21st, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Frostburg State University’s 12th president, Dr. Herb. F. Reinhard, passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday, Jan. 13, in Alpharetta, Ga.  Reinhard was president of Frostburg State from 1986 to 1991, years of significant transition for the institution, including when it gained university status in 1987 and when it joined the University System of Maryland in 1988. He increased enrollment and the size of the faculty, as well as secured funding for the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1993. He was active in the local community himself, and he increased the University’s involvement in a number of regional initiatives, including the organization that became The Cumberland Theatre. He also launched Frostburg’s first capital campaign to fund equipment. 

“My communications with him over the past several years showed the passion he had for Frostburg State University and the importance this school held for him as part of his long and successful career in higher education,” said Frostburg President Ron Nowaczyk.  “He was particularly proud of his legacy when we moved from being a college to a university.” 

Before arriving at Frostburg, he became president of Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania in 1979, and he also led that institution to university status in 1983. He then became president of Morehead State University in Kentucky in 1984. 

He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and his doctorate from Indiana University. 

Before embarking on his academic career, he had a varied and interesting professional journey, including as a professional youth tap dancer, a minor league baseball player and a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman and later a U.S. Marine. 

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Warner Reinhard, their four children, eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m. at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, 10950 Bell Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097. For more information, visit https://southcare-16518.meaningfulfunerals.net/obituary/dr-herbert-reinhard-jr.