Remembering Herb Sluder

Last week we lost Herb Sluder, a retired Environmental Health Department Manager from the Lord Fairfax Health District in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Anyone remembering Herb knew how seriously he took his life's work and his commitment to uphold the responsibility of public health protection to the best of his ability. One of my favorite quotes among several was, "We only get as much environmental protection as the public is willing to pay for." He was a fine teacher and mentor for a younger generation who are still actively practicing today. I can recall just a few years back one particular sunny afternoon about mid-September, and I was driving toward Winchester in the notorious traffic along Route 7 near Red Bud School. Coming up fast along the narrow median was a notable bicyclist with a mop of wavy hair on huge balloon tires, the kind of tires you might see along the boardwalk in places like Ocean City. My first thought was this teenager on his BMX trick bike was about to pop a "wheelie" in my rear-view mirror. As the determined cyclist passed us in traffic, I was doubly shocked to discover this teen was none other than Herb Sluder out for his afternoon constitutional. Herb thanks for the memories. You were an original and one of the best. You will be missed. My heartfelt condolences to your family and friends. 

Herbert Lamar Sluder (1936-2012) Obituary (click here)