Dr. Herbert Mote earned his optometry degree from Ohio State in 1935. He, along with Dr. Howard Haines, received the first MS degrees in physiological optics under Dr. Fry in 1938. He had a private practice in downtown Columbus for many years but also taught on a part-time basis at the Ohio State University School of Optometry. For more than three decades, from the 1940s to the 1960s, he served the profession with distinction as an Ohio State optometry student recruiter, registrar, counselor, clinic instructor, placement director, and beloved “father figure.” The annual Epsilon Psi Epsilon professional fraternity’s Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year award is named after Dr. Mote. He was president of the Ohio Optometric Association (1948–1950) and was a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. He was president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry 1959–1961.
In addition to his many academic duties at Ohio State, he was a consultant on vision to the Ohio State Highway Patrol from 1951 to 1969 and received an honorary badge of Captain from the OSHP. In 1973, he was named “Optometrist of the Year” by the Ohio Optometric Association. He was also an active contributor to local chapters of the United Way, Camp Fire Girls, the Columbus Recreation Commission, and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Mote passed away in 1974 at the age of 71.