davidherriman

David Herriman, a longtime business and arts leader in Covington and Cincinnati, has passed away.

He was 85.

Herriman (via Kenton Library)

The riverfront communities of Riverside Plaza and Riverside Terrace were developed by Herriman in the 1980s at the foot of the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Covington. He lived in the top penthouse overlooking the Licking Riverside neighborhood and with one of the finest views of the Cincinnati skyline.

In 2011, when the City of Covington Board of Commissioners was searching to replace Mayor Denny Bowman, who had resigned, Herriman was one of a few people approached about taking the job that was ultimately assumed by Chuck Scheper.

Beyond development, Herriman was one of the region’s most committed arts supporters.

Herriman (via Kenton Library)

In 2009, he was honored at the Metropolitan Club by the Friends of Covington where he shared stories about his life, as reported by the Business Courier at the time: He was born in Indianapolis and served in the U.S. Air Force before joining his family’s rock quarry business. He moved to Northern Kentucky and managed the family’s business until it was sold. He lived in Europe and worked as a consultant, and helped to develop a hillside condo project in an Italian fishing village, the article noted.

Locally, Herriman was part of the development of an industrial part in Florence and a residential project in Edgewood. He was a shareholder in the Covington Trust Bank and served as its president.

Herriman (left) helps plan a location for a new bank branch (via Kenton Library)

He was a longtime advocate for restoring Covington’s urban area and founded the Covington Urban Redevelopment Effort (CURE) which evolved into the Covington Business Council.

Plans for CURE as commissioned by Herriman (via Kenton Library)

Herriman’s contributions to the arts scene are massive and many in the local arts community are mourning his passing, as are other champions of LGBT issues in the region.

Herriman (left) meets with Northern Kentucky University president A.D. Albright (seated left) and Mr. & Mrs. Krumpleman (via Kenton Library)

Plans for memorial services are not yet known.

This story will be updated.

-Michael Monks, editor & publisher

Top photo via Facebook