Dr. Henson

Clip of Dr. Henson at Topeka West Hall of Fame
"Our business as rational human beings is to strive for what ought to be, rather than what is going to be, in ounsciousness that it will never be all we want it to be."
- Herbert Mueller, Uses of the Past

"Hes gone. 8:20 or so. Shirley, Chris, Scott and I with him. Jimmy had just left.

Heaven has a new Principal."

I got this text tonight letting me know that the father of a best friend had died. Owen Henson was my high school principal, a mentor, a role model, a friend and much more to not just me, but to a generation of Topeka West kids, teachers, peers, administrators, a wealth of friends. I think it can be said there were few more powerful advocates for students and the important function of a strong system of public education ever. It took me over 40 years to refer to him as Owen and not, Dr. Henson. Few adults other than relatives have had such an important impact on my life.

Owen stressed that the most important relationship at school, the only one that really mattered and that must be supported above all others was that of student & teacher. The jobs and functions  that directly supported the student & teacher had to be a top priority.

He was a good friend as well. Living in Topeka after HS with no family the Hensons treated me as just another kid hanging out. Along with the Strattons and Lafonds, Owen & Shirley made sure that no matter what,  I knew where I could find a basement in case the sirens blew. After the passing of my mom and dad my kids could always count on birthday cards and care packages at Winfield. 

There is much more I could say and after the reality settles in maybe I'll say more. For now I want to close with a poem by Ferlinghetti:

The World Is a Beautiful Place

by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

The world is a beautiful place

to be born into

if you don't mind happiness

not always being

so very much fun

if you don't mind a touch of hell

now and then

just when everything is fine

because even in heaven

they don't sing

all the time

The world is a beautiful place

to be born into

if you don't mind some people dying

all the time or maybe only starving

some of the time

which isn't half bad

if it isn't you

Oh the world is a beautiful place

to be born into

if you don't much mind

a few dead minds

in the higher places

or a bomb or two

now and then

in your upturned faces

or such other improprieties

as our Name Brand society

is prey to with its men of distinction

and its men of extinction

and its priests

and other patrolmen

and its various segregations

and congressional investigations

and other constipations

that our fool flesh

is heir to

Yes the world is the best place of all

for a lot of such things as

making the fun scene

and making the love scene

and making the sad scene

and singing low songs

and having inspirations

and walking around

looking at everything

and smelling flowers

and goosing statues

and even thinking

and kissing people and

making babies and wearing pants

and waving hats and

dancing

and going swimming in rivers

on picnics

in the middle of the summer

and just generally'living it up'

Yes

but then right in the middle of it

comes the smiling

mortician

In closing, the world was made a better and more beautiful place with Dr. Henson in the front office down in A building.