Fair Play man filled many roles

Many Oconeeans, including Buddy Herring, who are interested in school governance, await the results of next week contests for three county school board offices.  One of those contests determines whether Terry Swain or Keith Johnson wins the District 5 trustee seat that Herring is giving up.  Herring’s public service career, mostly in education, is winding down after five decades.  It’s likely only old-timers can remember that Herring holds one of the distinctions in general county government.  He was among the county councilmen who took part in the first-ever council meeting.  That meeting took place in 1975 as Oconee moved away from state delegation government to what’s called Home Rule.  Of the five who attended the first county council meeting, on January 2, 1975, only Herring still survives.