Woodworking industry icon and Accu-Router founder Todd Allen Herzog died Monday, June 12 following a short illness. He was 78 years old.

Herzog was the longtime director of marketing at Powermatic before acquiring and becoming president of Accu-Router in 1992. As part of Accu-Router, Herzog was a longtime member of the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA), chaired multiple committees and served as past president of the association. In 1993 he received the Ralph Baldwin "Man of the Year" Award, the highest honor given by the WMMA. 

After his retirement from Accu-Router, Herzog continued to be active in the community. In addition to writing a monthly column for the Southern Standard, he was active with the Business Roundtable Action Committee (founder and chair), Habitat for Humanity of Warren County, St. Catherine Church, Noon Rotary, Willowbrook Pro-Am Golf Tournament (founding volunteer), Industrial Appreciation Day Golf Tournament (chairman), and was on the Motlow College Executive Council.

Herzog also helped start the Citizens for Progress Scholarship Fund in 2007 which has provided more than $1.5 million in financial aid for higher education in Warren County. He was instrumental in bringing Mechatronics and Robotics to Motlow College and Warren County High School, preparing future generations for lucrative STEM careers. In 2015 he was recognized as the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) Volunteer of the Year at Gaylord Opryland. Herzog was also an avid sportsman.

Born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 28, 1944, Herzog was a 1966 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, later earning a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Buffalo.

Herzog is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathleen, his son Todd Richard (Jessica) of Mason, Ohio; brother Tim Herzog of Loudon, Tennessee; sister Deborah Orlov of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; sister Toby Woodhouse of Corona del Mar, California; granddaughter Caroline, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Constance Herzog and daughter Jennifer Clark.

Visitation and service will be held at the McMinnville Funeral Home, on June 26. In lieu of flowers, the family is creating the Todd A. Herzog Memorial Fund to support deserving Warren County students. Contributions can be made locally at Homeland Community Bank (900 N. Chancery St., McMinnville, TN 37110) or online at gofundme.com/f/toddherzog.

A tribute video can be viewed below.