Mr. Herman L. Rider, principal of Maine Township High School West for 13 years, died suddenly Friday, April 27, of a heart attack in Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, after a short illness.

Maine West held a special memorial program on April 30 at 2 p.m. in the school auditorium. The invocation was given by the Rev. R. K. Wobbe, pastor of Christ Church and a close personal friend of Mr. Rider. A tribute to Mr. Rider was given by Mr. James Coburn, acting principal. The Maine West Concert Choir, under the direction of Mr. Donald Lord, sang the school Alma Mater, which Mr. Rider helped write. Testimonies on behalf of the students, department chairmen, and faculty were then given by Cheryl Kueker '73, vice‑president of Student Council; Mr. Kenneth Olson, athletic director; and Mr. Dewane Barnes, president of Maine Teachers' Association, respectively.

The Concert Choir then sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic; and the benediction was given by the Rev. Garry A Scheuer, Jr., pastor of Mr. Rider's church, the First Congregational.

Visitation was held Sunday, April 29, and Monday, April 30, from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Oehler Funeral Home. Mr. Rider lay in state May 1 in the Frist Congregational Church from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 11 am. The Rev. Scheuer and the Rev. James Wagner officiated. Burial was in a family lot in Washington Cemetery in Portland, Wisconsin.

Residents for 27 years, the Riders came to Des Plaines in 1946 when Mr. Rider joined the science staff of Maine Township High School (now Maine East) as a physics teacher and three years later became chairman of the department. He had also spent many years teaching at Oakland High School, Oakland, Illinois, and in the science area at the University of Chicago.

When Maine West High School opened in 1959, Mr. Rider was appointed an assistant principal and Science Department chairman. One year later he became principal.

Born in Westfield, Illinois, May 10, 1909, Mr. Rider grew up there and graduated from Westfield Township High School. He later received his bachelor of arts degree at Indiana Central College in Indianapolis, Indiana. His master's degree was earned at the University of Iowa, and further graduate work was done at the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin, and Northwestern University. He was awarded a National Science Foundation Scholarship to attend the foundation summer institute at the University of Connecticut in 1958.

In addition to his many school activities Mr. Rider was active in civic organizations. He was past president of the Des Plaines Kiwanis Club and currently a member of its youth services committee and visitation committee, a member of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, and the Des Plaines Round Table for Youth. He was the first part‑time recreational director of the Des Plaines Park District.

Mr. Rider resided at 300 Oxford Road. He is survived by his wife, Pearl, a faculty member of Mt. Prospect School Dist. 57, a daughter, Mrs. Gretchen L. (Donald A.) Seagren of El Paso, Texas, both 1962 graduates of Maine West. Mr. Rider has also three sisters: Mrs. Alfreda Cassel of Dayton, Ohio, and Mrs. Lucille Pemberton and Mrs. Elizabeth Wishart, both of Tampa, Florida.

Maine West was closed on Tuesday, May 1, and the flag flew at half‑mast on this day of tribute and mourning as it had the preceding day for this dedicated principal.