[3] As a cheerleader at Southern Methodist University, Herkimer developed what became known as the Herkie by accident while intending to perform a split jump.
[4] At SMU, he formed a national organization for cheerleaders and created a cheerleading-oriented magazine called Megaphone.
[4] It was originally purchased by the BSN Corporation, which sold it to the Prospect Group in June 1988, with Herkimer staying on to run the business.
Herkimer chose the name "Pom pon" after hearing that the word "pompom" had vulgar meanings in other languages.
He acknowledged that herkies were no longer a part of his exercise regimen, stating that "I was about 60 when I did my last one", and that it would require "a crane and piano wire [for him] to perform one now".