Henry lived in several West Texas towns until settling in Whiteface, where he graduated from Whiteface High School. He attended Wayland Baptist College and played on the basketball team for only one year because he figured out that, at 6-feet-6-inches tall, he was too short and too slow to play collegiate basketball. He transferred to Texas Tech University, where he graduated with a degree in physical education.

He taught public school in El Paso for years. As a basketball coach, he used to tell his students that he could beat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one. He’d wait a beat, then say, “Yep, when I was in college, Michael Jordan was three years old.”

His hobby was cooking for any organization that needed volunteers. He enjoyed fishing at Falcon Lake with Wayno, Roger and Mike, who are waiting for him at a heavenly honey hole with a pole and bait bucket. He also enjoyed the coast with Dobie, Bob and Kelly.

Henry will be remembered as the steady and dependable guy who ran the NAPA Auto Parts store in Blanco for 33 years. Henry had a teacher’s heart even though he only formally taught for two years. His 1976 Ford F150 pickup was used to teach many kids to drive. He also accompanied many kids when they caught their first fish or shot their first deer. He willingly helped in planning children’s parties at church and took a group of teens on a spring break trip to the Louisiana swamps.

Henry married Connie Granberg Jan. 1, 1976. He said he wanted a date that was easy to remember. He always said they were married 45 glorious years. “Married 49, but 45 were glorious,” he’d add. Overall, still in the plus column.

A come-and-go celebration of life will be held Sunday, Feb. 16, from 3-5 p.m. at the Old 300 BBQ’s Back 40 hall on the Blanco square. Please wear jeans and a fishing shirt, enjoy a plate of Ladd’s barbecue and tell “I remember when” stories about Henry.