Born in Nictaux Falls, Nova Scotia, Hermann attended King's Collegiate School.
At the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, he was a silver medalist in the discus and finished with bronze in the shot put.
He won national titles in the hammer throw, shot put, and discus at the Canadian Championships in 1932.
He became a four-time All-Canadian, was the Big Four's leading scorer in 1937, and featured in the 1940 Grey Cup-winning side.
He had been travelling to meet business associates in Cornwall and was under the assumption he would be able to land at a nearby airstrip, which it turned out was never completed.