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Jason A. Hervin ’41

Jason Hervin ’41, December 30, 1998, in Portland. After attending Reed for three years, he transferred to the University of Oregon, graduating in 1941. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in World War II. After the war, he returned to Portland and was director of advertising for White Stag in 1946–50. In 1952 he purchased a bankrupt pet food company in Tualatin, Oregon. The Hervin Company, which manufactured Blue Mountain pet food, became a successful enterprise under his guidance and was the largest employer in the community for many years. He was known for his creativity in business and his clever marketing strategies that included trucks carrying the company slogan and humorous radio ads in which he personally starred. In 1972 he sold the company to RFR Nabisco but continued on as president until 1981. He was a director of the Pet Food Institute, a national organization of leading manufacturers, and he served on the United Good Neighbors’ Agency relations committee in Portland. He also served for 30 years with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was on the boards of a number of civic organizations. He is survived by his wife of 50 years; a sister, Barbara Hervin Schwab ’41; a daughter; and a granddaughter.

Appeared in Reed magazine: May 1999