Coach Henderson was very influential in my life . He was in many ways a surrogate father. My father had a stroke when I was twelve and died when I was 16. During my first wo years at Custer I worked in the AD office for him. Although he was formidable, I was always fairly treated. When I joined the swim team as manager he included me in many things that he need not have. I remember several meals at his house with his wife Jean and the boys, Jim and Bill. When Bill was a POW I and many others wore a bracelet with his name on it. I didn't take it off until he came home
During the winter coach frequently gave me a ride home after practilce. He and Bill Ritter (UWM coach) trained me as a swimming referee. Thanks to coach, I was certified in my junior year. The only problem was that I could not be assigned to Custer meets. I spent a considerable amount of time on busses !. I remember getting into trouble at one meet because I missed a diver who dove in the wrong position. The opposing coach was screaming for a disqualification. The correct action was a reduction in score by one third. Being a rookie I didn't know that until I looked it up in the rule book. Coach's whole response when I told him about it was, "You won't do that again". I didn't and fifty years later I remember both the rule and the lesson.
We all die and I still miss him. My only regret was that I never had the insisight to thank him. Thanks Coach you will forever remain in my heart.
Tom Winslow
Coach Henderson was very influential in my life . He was in many ways a surrogate father. My father had a stroke when I was twelve and died when I was 16. During my first wo years at Custer I worked in the AD office for him. Although he was formidable, I was always fairly treated. When I joined the swim team as manager he included me in many things that he need not have. I remember several meals at his house with his wife Jean and the boys, Jim and Bill. When Bill was a POW I and many others wore a bracelet with his name on it. I didn't take it off until he came home
During the winter coach frequently gave me a ride home after practilce. He and Bill Ritter (UWM coach) trained me as a swimming referee. Thanks to coach, I was certified in my junior year. The only problem was that I could not be assigned to Custer meets. I spent a considerable amount of time on busses !. I remember getting into trouble at one meet because I missed a diver who dove in the wrong position. The opposing coach was screaming for a disqualification. The correct action was a reduction in score by one third. Being a rookie I didn't know that until I looked it up in the rule book. Coach's whole response when I told him about it was, "You won't do that again". I didn't and fifty years later I remember both the rule and the lesson.
We all die and I still miss him. My only regret was that I never had the insisight to thank him. Thanks Coach you will forever remain in my heart.