TAPPS news, sports & fine arts Vol. II, No. 1 (Special edition) ♦ Monday, June 22, 2009 Dedicated to the promotion of private and parochial schools in Texas
First director of TAPPS dies Johnnie Henderson passes away at age of 84
Johnnie Henderson (1924-2009)
Johnnie Henderson, the first executive director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, died Saturday, June 20, 2009, at the age of 84.
He had been hospitalized with leukemia recently and had only been given a few weeks to live.
Funeral services were scheduled Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Forney, where he lived with his wife, Evelyn Young. They had enjoyed 64 years of marriage. Interment will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery following the service.
Johnnie was a retired teacher, coach and school administrator. He was employed at Avery ISD, Rylie, Royce City, Forney, Stephenville, Highland Park and First Baptist Academy Dallas. He became executive director of TAPPS in 1983 and retired in 1994, handpicking his successor, the present executive director, Edd Burleson.
His service to education totaled more than 45 years. He served faithfully as a Deacon, Bible Study teacher and Christian servant. He firmly believed in God first, family second and country/community third. He was still active in the Lions Club and the American Legion, Post 591 and as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Forney.
He graduated from Winnsboro High School and East Texas State University (Texas A & M University Commerce) with B.S. and B.A. degrees.
Henderson served during World War II with the 394th Infantry Regiment and 99th Infantry Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, the crossing of the Rhine River, the Black Forest and the Remagen Bridge crossing. He was injured shortly after the crossing at Remagen.
Johnnie Lee Henderson Sr. was born in Quitman, Texas, on Oct. 4, 1924. He was preceded in death by his parents, W.C. Henderson and Elizabeth Gertrude Brummett Henderson; a sister, Aline Kirby, and brothers, Bill and Doyle Henderson. He is survived by a sister, Ruby Nell Newkirk. Johnnie and Evelyn also are survived by a son, Johnnie L. Henderson Jr., and wife Glenda, and wife Glenda, daughter Jayne Huffman and husband Bruce, three grandchildren Matthew, Wesley and Jessica Dooley.
One of his proudest moments was the naming of an elementary school after he and his wife -- Henderson Elementary School. TAPPS further memorialized his service a year ago by designating its prestigious "all-school" points award in his name, The Johnnie Henderson Trophy.
