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Vince, Ethan & Caleb
try to be a buddy now and lose them later. If you
VINCE
try really hard you can be buddies and a father,
What is something you admire about but the father role has to come first.
your sons?
I admire many things about my sons–for Ethan,
I admire his sense of humor, his intelligence, and
his gentle spirit. His compassion–his huge heart
and his concern for others–is probably the thing
that I admire most. For Caleb, I admire his
inquisitiveness and his absolute desire to please.
And I love that he is a little hero every day.
What is something you really enjoy doing
with your sons?
I love doing anything with them–we always have
fun. I particularly enjoy travelling with Ethan,
shooting the breeze and listening to music. We
really enjoy listening to music together, although
he likes to have control of the playlist. I enjoy
talking about almost any subject with him.
I especially enjoy reading, watching movies, and
playing games with Caleb. His take on things is
always so interesting and he’s very funny. I love
having both of them with me when I have projects
to do. It makes the time go faster having them
around.
Is there anything your father said to you
growing up that you find yourself
repeating to your sons?
I’m sure there are lots of “dadisms” that I
borrowed from my dad. I personally think the
most meaningful thing my Dad used to tell me is
one I’ve definitely carried on. When I’ve had to
correct my kids–scold or punish them–it’s
always hard. But I tell them I’d rather be a father
to them now and a buddy to them later than to
Do you have a favorite or particularly
memorable Father’s Day gift?
I always just love getting to eat somewhere with
the family for Father’s Day. I’m easy to please.
The first Father’s Day present I ever got was a
recliner to sit in with my oldest child, my only
daughter. Probably the most memorable Father’s
Day gift was a rafting trip on the Ocoee. It was
fantastic.
Is there a story or particular meaning
behind the “fun” socks you chose for the
photo shoot?
Great question! The story is that Ethan borrowed
my favorite fun socks that have sharks on them
and we currently can’t find one of them so I took
his “chimpanzee in a suit” socks. I wear a tie to
work most days, so it’s appropriate.
How are you and your sons alike?
How are you different?
Ethan and I look a lot alike, our sense of humor is
sometimes similar and, as I mentioned, we both
love music. I think we both enjoy doing things
for other people. We particularly enjoyed a
mission trip we got to go on together. How are
we different? He is taller than I am and has been
calling me “little guy” for about three years now.
He is a better singer and can already grow a
better beard. He’s also more outgoing than I am.
Caleb and I both love maps, books, and getting
outdoors. We’re both pleasers. He is braver than
I am.
Vince Herrin is a physician specializing
in the fields of hematology and oncology.
Son Ethan, 18, is a 2020 graduate of
Jackson Prep and will be heading to
Mississippi State in the fall to study
psychology. Caleb, 8, just finished second
grade at First Presbyterian Day School.
The Herrin family also includes mom
Kristi and daughter Hannah, 22, a 2020
graduate of Kenyon College in Ohio.
Except for a five year period living in
Virginia, the Herrins have called Rankin
County home since 1996.
ETHAN
What is something you admire about
your dad?
His work ethic. I genuinely think there are very
few people on the earth that can work as hard
and consistently as my dad can.
What is something you really enjoy
doing with your dad?
I really enjoy riding in the car with my dad and
sharing our music with each other.
What’s the best advice your dad has
ever given you?
He was the first person to teach me about
viewing things from other people’s perspectives
and to not be so quick in drawing conclusions.
He has taught me empathy and it’s now one of
my strongest abilities.
Is there a story or particular meaning
behind the “fun” socks you chose for the
photo shoot?
I just know I got my dad into it. I’ve always had
cool socks and dad often laughs at them.
However, I think I’ve gotten him into some
pretty cool socks now.
How are you and your dad alike?
How are you different?
I really don’t think we’re very different and I’m
very thankful for that. I hope to keep growing in
my spirituality and become strong in it like him,
I hope to truly adopt his always positive attitude,
and I hope my quest for understanding people
never goes away.
Hometown RANKIN • 45