Feb.
7, 1924 - Oct. 30, 2009SOUTH BEND - G. Herbert "Herb" True, residing in South Bend, passed away at 5:55 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2009 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. He was born February 7, 1924 in Oklahoma City, OK, the son of Guy Herbert & Agnes (Murphy) True, and grew up in Lawton, OK. Herb was a motivational speaker and the founder of TEAM International (True Education and Motivation). He often referred to himself as an "Edutainer, " an educator who entertains. In his forty-year career as a professional speaker, he gave over 6000 speeches, traveling more than ten million miles as he criss-crossed the country. He came to South Bend in 1952 to serve as a professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also taught marketing in the business school. He stayed at Notre Dame six years before he became one of the first people in the United States to pursue speaking as a full-time career. He worked as an adjunct professor of business at Notre Dame and St. Mary's College (1982-1996). He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma, a master's from Northwestern University, and his PhD from the University of Iowa. He was a volunteer at The Center for the Homeless and at Forever Learning Institute. He was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, South Bend. On June 3, 1947 in Tulsa, OK, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. "Betty Ann" McMahan. He is survived by Betty Ann, his loving wife of sixty-two years. Also surviving are three daughters, Mary True (David) McAneny of Oakland, CA; Nancy True (William) Brady of Bloomington, IL; Lisa True (Roland) Hwang of Albany, CA; and four sons, Robert (Pam) True of Chicago, IL; Stephen (Nancy) True of Milwaukee, WI; Greg (Anne) True of South Bend; and Jeff (Brenda) True of Bowling Green, KY. Also surviving Herb are his twenty-four grandchildren, a brother, Michael (Mary Pat) True of Worcester, MA; and a sister-in-law, Sue True of Midland, TX. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael, a daughter-in-law, Sue, and his brother, Robert True. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 3, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 226 North Hill Street, South Bend, followed by a luncheon at Morris Park Country Club. The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. today at the Palmer Funeral Home-Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN, where a parish rosary will be said at 4:00 p.m. today. The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of Our Lady of Peace and the chaplains at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. Thanks also to Danielle and to the members of the "rapid response team," who saved Herb's life in late August. Memorial contributions on behalf of Herb True may be offered to The Center for the Homeless, 813 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601, or to the charity of the donor's choice.