Bill Herrmann’s father owned one of the top physical training institutes in Philadelphia. Under his father’s eye he turned out to be an excellent tumbler. Herrmann won the U.S. tumbling championship in 1928, 1929 and 1931 and was Middle Atlantic champion 10 times. In addition to gymnastics, Herrmann became an outstanding fencer, and won several local championships in foil. He later taught fencing at the Drexel Institute. After his father’s death, Herrmann took over the gymnasium as its manager and has continued in that profession since.