LEANDER, TX (March 31, 2025) — The Texas State Florists' Association (TSFA) joins floral professionals nationwide to mourn the passing of an industry great. Herman Meinders died peacefully on March 30, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 87.

Born in Pipestone, Minnesota, on Nov. 15, 1937, Meinders lived a life defined by vision, generosity and an unwavering belief in the power of hard work and giving back. His generosity of spirit and resources contributed greatly to TSFA and to the Texas Floral Endowment (TFE). Meinders carried the values of his small-town upbringing — humility, grit, and a deep respect for others —  throughout an extraordinary life that touched countless communities, industries and individuals around the world.

In 1970, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Herman founded American Floral Services (AFS), an international flowers-by-wire service based in Oklahoma City. What began in a garage apartment with 137 subscriber florists grew to become one of the largest floral wire services in the world. AFS contributed greatly to the success of TSFA through its commitment to the association's events and education. In 1994, Meinders sold AFS, and in 2000, it merged with Teleflora to better serve the floral community. He remained Chairman Emeritus of Teleflora, forever proud of the industry he helped transform and the lifelong friendships he built within it.

Meinders received numerous honors from the floral industry, including honorary membership in the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), the AIFD Award of Merit to the Industry and his 2012 induction into the Society of American Florists Floriculture Hall of Fame. He co-founded the World Flower Council and was the first recipient of its Floral Laureate Award.  

In Texas, TFE established the Herman Meinders Visionary Award, of which he was the first recipient. TFE received a most generous contribution from the Herman Meinders Foundation, which prepared a path for TSFA's floral design certification program for high school students. The gift he entrusted to TFE will help cultivate future generations of floral professionals for many years to come, ensuring a bright future for the industry Meinders loved. Securing this program was an extension of the provision he previously contributed, which established TFE in 1991.

A celebration of life will be held on April 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City, followed by a reception at the Meinders Neuroscience Center at Mercy Hospital.

An obituary has been posted online, and a livestream of his service will also be available.

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Established in 1914, the Texas State Florists’ Association (TSFA) is the premier organization representing floral industry professionals throughout the state and beyond. Through conferences, meetings, the Texas School of Floral Design, publications, and certification programs for high school students, teachers and designers, TSFA achieves its mission of cultivating member success and a strong floral community. Membership benefits include access to exclusive resources, publications and educational materials, as well as significant discounts on registrations for conferences and other events. With a commitment to floral professionals that spans more than a century, TSFA eagerly seeks innovative ways to advance the floral industry. Learn more at tsfa.org.