Herman Purdy (July 4, 1919 to June 30, 1985) was known as the worlds top beef cattle judge. A native of Harris, Missouri, Purdy was from a family that raised purebred Shorthorn cattle. Raised with registered Polled Hereford cattle, he graduated from Ohio State University and received a masters degree from Penn State University, where he was in charge of purebred livestock. As a young man, he judged the famous livestock show in Perth, Scotland one of several international judging assignments that took him to  Buenos Aires, Argentina,  Porto Alegre, Brazil, Melbourne, Australia, Auckland New Zealand and many other nations. In the United States, he judged the American Royal, Kansas City, the International Livestock Exposition, Chicago, the National Western, Denver, Southwest Stock Show, Ft. Worth, and the North American Livestock Show, Louisville, many times. His name is associated with the well known Eisenhower Farm at Gettysburg, where he was friend and advisor to the former President and First Lady as they developed their Angus herd.                            

As coach of the university livestock team he had many firsts such as winning the Eastern States Exposition and the Eastern National Livestock Show both in the same year. The highlight was coaching the winning team at the 1966 International Livestock Show. The success of these team members and his many students is also testimony to his good judgment  Purdys recommendations of animals for purchase and matings, resulted in many grand and reserve grand champions---too many to list. Some of the herds he influenced include Summitcrest, Dawn Acres, Royal, Castle Mey, Crowfields, Sherwood, Windholme, Falkands, and Dunwalke. Herman Purdy was inducted into the Saddle & Sirloin Club Portrait Gallery in 1984.