Doing His Own Thing

Brother Tom Henderson was a man who did his own thing – with gusto and a nearly single-minded purpose of doing the job and moving on to the next venture. And, he did so at St. Mary’s for almost 70 years.

A man of myriad interests, space allows mention of only a few: He taught himself Russian, studying seven hours a day, every day, for two years. He taught himself rope twirling and hatchet throwing while assisting at summer camps. He became an expert marksman and was later appointed as an instructor for the San Antonio Police Department, and his hunting excursions were always fruitful.

He gained proficiency on the high bars by practicing with a circus trapeze troupe in Alumni Gym. An interest in mushrooms led him to grow and harvest them on campus. He was a senior Red Cross life saver, a softball pitcher and a doubles handball champion. He raised horses and sometimes rode 50 miles a day. Trick riding with hurdles became a specialty. He took up golf at age 65, played three times a week and made his own golf balls. He took up photography, specializing in Madonnas with Child, and his enlargements were legendary. He ran the University’s entire physical training program from 1936 to 1948 and after that became the University’s sole campus security officer.

And, he was a copious letter writer. It is for these activities that former students remember him best.

Many others, however, remember him for his unadulterated zest for living.

Brother Thomas Henderson, S.M., died July 20, 1998, at the age of 97. He was a Marianist for 79 years.