Bill Herndon grew up in High Point, NC, graduating from High Point Central High. He taught himself to play the piano at age 5. He then studied piano with Troy W. Lee and organ with Henry B. Whipple. He attended the University of Michigan’s School of Music studying Organ Performance with Dr. Robert Glasgow. While at U-M, Herndon served a term as Dean of the Student Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and was the student assistant to the school’s Interim Curator of Organs assisting with the restoration of Hill Auditorium’s 123 rank, 7,441 pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ.
Herndon has served many churches and denominations throughout his career. Currently Organist-Choirmaster at Lexington’s Grace Episcopal Church, he previously served at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Advance and Greensboro’s Congregational United Church of Christ.
Adopted at birth, Bill learned late in his adult life that he inherited his musical and mechanical proclivities from his biological mother and father. His mother was an accomplished pianist in her hometown. His father served as a military mechanic and retired from a distinguished engineering career at Western Electric. His father also enjoyed singing, playing the saxophone, and dancing. No, Bill can’t dance.
Herndon retired from the US Postal Service in 2024 after 24 years as a Building Equipment Mechanic (HVAC) at Greensboro’s Network Distribution Center and a few years as a Rural Mail Carrier. He worked with NCDOT’s Rail Division where he helped with train demonstrations, football specials to Carolina Panther games, station improvement planning, and onboard service operations. He worked with electrical firms in North Carolina and Ohio. Beyond his electrical license and EPA-Refrigerant certifications, Bill has also held licenses for Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm, and Telecommunication Systems installation and service.
In our community, Bill was one of the founders and past presidents of the Triad Health Project. He served on the High Point Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee, was a Director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, and was instrumental in forming the Save the Depot Committee which saved and restored High Point’s Historic Train Station preparing it for eventual High Speed Rail service.
Herndon resides just outside Thomasville with four dogs, plus deer and other wildlife that roam across his property. In “retirement,” he operates a small electric contracting company that does residential and commercial work in the area.
Grace Episcopal Church 