 |
 |
     |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||
|
Jim Henry |
<back | |
||
 It is somewhat ironic that James J. Henry served
as Director of Athletics at LaSalle College, a school that has not played football since
1941, for football played a great part in Jim Henry's career before he retired as Athletic
Director on January 1, 1969.Before graduating from Villanova in 1930, Henry received All-American honorable mention at end, and when he came to LaSalle in 1930 he was named line coach, then head coach in 1940 and 1941. In 1961 he was president of the Eastern Intercollegiate Football Officials Association, officiating many of the nation's top grid contests for some twenty-five years before retiring after the 1954 Army-Navy game. Football, however, was only part of the story of Jim Henry, for he was a man devoted not merely to a single sport, but to athletics and what college athletics represented. In his thirty-eight years at LaSalle, thirty-four as Athletic Director, he gave his time and energy equally to all sports. He coached the 1931 Explorer Basketball Team to a 15-4 record and started LaSalle's crew, the first Catholic College crew in the nation. A total of nine varsity sports brought national recognition to the college through his guidance. Jim Henry was also one of the founders of the Big Five, the historic and unprecedented organization of five local colleges playing basketball under the same roof that started with the 1955-56 season. Mr. Henry was elected to the Villanova Hall of Fame in 1989 as an executive for his many contributions to sports both locally and nationally. A long time Maxwell Club Member, he became Vice President under Lew Elverson and served in that capacity for eighteen years. He was named Chairman of the Board in 1977. Jim Henry was a man whose dedication to the Maxwell Football Club is unparalleled. He along with a few of his old friends make the trip to Philadelphia for all Maxwell weekly luncheons which honor the high school student-athlete. Mr. Henry would not allow this award to be named after him, if the criteria was only based on football ability. He insisted that this award must be based on the student's academics as well as contributions to school and community. A professor of Finance of LaSalle's faculty, Henry received the honorary degree of Doctor of Law from the college in 1955. He retired from teaching in May 1971 and moved to Avalon, New Jersey. In his retirement, Henry's activities in the South Jersey area were extensive. He was a past president of the Sea Isle Chapter, #710, of the American Association of Retired Persons and the Avalon Senior Citizens. He was also named the 1985 Outstanding Senior Citizen for Cape May County and was honored at the Governor's Mansion in Trenton. Before his death on December 19, 1990, Henry had attended every Maxwell Football Club annual banquet since it started in 1937. James J. Henry was survived by his wife, Jule, daughter, Julie and son, Joe. It was Jim's trademark to end every conversation by saying, "God love you!" |
|||||
|
|
|
|
| Top | ||
|
Home | News
| Awards |
Events |
Join |
Gear |
Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
