Wabash College Athletics

Herman E. Berns came to Wabash in 1931 from Indianapolis. He earned four letters each in football and basketball and split time between baseball and track. He was also active in the Sphinx Club and in Blue Key.

As a gridiron standout, Berns quarterbacked the Little Giants to huge wins over Manchester and Rose Poly, but it was his touchdown pass to Booie Snyder in the third Monon Bell Game that gave Wabash a victory over previously unbeaten DePauw by a 7-6 score, handing DePauw its first loss in two full seasons.

Berns was named to the Indianapolis Star's All-State Secondary College Team as a quarterback. As a center on the basketball team, he helped Coach Vaughan and the Little Giants to a Secondary State Championship in 1934-35.

After graduation, Berns spent four years teaching and coaching in Indiana high schools before he returned to Wabash as an assistant to Coach Vaughan. After a year at Wabash, the Air Force claimed Berns' services during the critical years of 1940-46. After World War II, he returned to Indiana and founded Berns Construction Company, Incorporated where he worked until his retirement.