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	Henderson Family The James M. and Edith Henderson Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the many contributions that Dean Emeritus and Mrs. James M. Henderson made to Tennessee Technological University and to Cookeville. James Manson Henderson, born May 28, 1896, in Yorkville, TN, received a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee -Knoxville in 1922 and an MSCE in 1924. In 1924, the Hendersons moved to Cookeville where he became head of a fledgling engineering department at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University). He launched engineering at Tech with two faculty members and a borrowed surveyor's transit. He served the university for 42 years, becoming the first dean of engineering in 1949, a position which he held until 1961. Dean Henderson conceived and initiated a unique annual-rotation cooperative education program in 1959. His model has since been copied by other institutions. After retiring as dean, he coordinated the co-op program until leaving university service at age 70 in 1966. A registered professional engineer, Dean Henderson was a life member of the American Society for Engineering Education. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Tennessee Education Association, and the National Education Association. The Hendersons were well known for their civic and church activities. Dean Henderson was a charter member of the committee which established Cookeville's first youth center in 1944. He was a counselor to the Boy Scouts of America. Active in the First United Methodist Church, he served as general superintendent of the church's schools, director of religious education and chairman of the church building committee. He was a member of the Cookeville Rotary Club and served as its president. He was a veteran of World War I, an Excellent High Priest in the Cookeville Masonic Lodge and a member of the American Legion. Mrs. Henderson was a homemaker, a member of the TTU Faculty Women's Club, the Book Lover's Club, and served as the director of the Youth Center. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, she was active in the Chapel Class, the United Methodist Women, Senior Neighbors, and was honored as Queen Mother in 1946 by the United Methodist Men. The Hendersons had three children - Helen Henderson Keeney, H. LeRoy Henderson, and James M. (Matt) Henderson, Jr., ten grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren. The Hendersons were gentle giants. Dean Henderson was a quiet man - a man whose influence will be felt for decades. Engineering at Tennessee Tech is what it is today because of the foundation laid by J.M. (Jim) Henderson, and Mom Henderson was a helpful friendly person and always available to solve student problems in the outer room of the Dean's Office. Dean Henderson passed away February 20, 1980, and Edith Henderson on May 3, 1995.

Henderson Family

The James M. and Edith Henderson Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the many contributions that Dean Emeritus and Mrs. James M. Henderson made to Tennessee Technological University and to Cookeville. James Manson Henderson, born May 28, 1896, in Yorkville, TN, received a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee -Knoxville in 1922 and an MSCE in 1924.

In 1924, the Hendersons moved to Cookeville where he became head of a fledgling engineering department at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University). He launched engineering at Tech with two faculty members and a borrowed surveyor's transit. He served the university for 42 years, becoming the first dean of engineering in 1949, a position which he held until 1961.

Dean Henderson conceived and initiated a unique annual-rotation cooperative education program in 1959. His model has since been copied by other institutions. After retiring as dean, he coordinated the co-op program until leaving university service at age 70 in 1966.

A registered professional engineer, Dean Henderson was a life member of the American Society for
Engineering Education. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the
Tennessee Education Association, and the National Education Association.

The Hendersons were well known for their civic and church activities. Dean Henderson was a charter member of the committee which established Cookeville's first youth center in 1944. He was a counselor to the Boy Scouts of America. Active in the First United Methodist Church, he served as general superintendent of the church's schools, director of religious education and chairman of the church building committee. He was a member of the Cookeville Rotary Club and served as its president. He was a veteran of World War I, an Excellent High Priest in the Cookeville Masonic Lodge and a member of the American Legion. Mrs. Henderson was a homemaker, a member of the TTU Faculty Women's Club, the Book Lover's Club, and served as the director of the Youth Center. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, she was active in the Chapel Class, the United Methodist Women, Senior Neighbors, and was honored as Queen Mother in 1946 by the United Methodist Men.

The Hendersons had three children - Helen Henderson Keeney, H. LeRoy Henderson, and James M. (Matt) Henderson, Jr., ten grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren.

The Hendersons were gentle giants. Dean Henderson was a quiet man - a man whose influence will be felt for decades. Engineering at Tennessee Tech is what it is today because of the foundation laid by J.M. (Jim) Henderson, and Mom Henderson was a helpful friendly person and always available to solve student problems in the outer room of the Dean's Office.

Dean Henderson passed away February 20, 1980, and Edith Henderson on May 3, 1995.