A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

To express sympathy for the loss of Mr. roy c. henderson and to request the Department of Transportation name the portion of south liberty street in the city of spartanburg in spartanburg county from the c.c. woodson community center to caulder avenue "Roy C. Henderson Memorial Street" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

 

Whereas, a towering figure from the South Carolina Lowcountry to the Upstate, the Honorable Roy C. Henderson left his mark as an educator, coach and civic leader; and

 

Whereas, a native of Washington, Pennsylvania, Mr. Henderson was born in 1923, the son of the late Ernest Scott Henderson and Ethel Harris Henderson and the stepson of the late Harry H. Baker. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Carolina State College, now university, and furthered his education with a master's degree from Indiana University and studies in the graduate education program at Converse College; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Henderson began his storied educational and coaching career at Spaulding High School in Lamar in 1950, where he organized and coached the school's first black high school football team. At St. Stephen High School in Berkeley, he organized the first physical education program and organized and coached its first football team; and

 

Whereas, relocating to the Upstate in 1952, Mr. Henderson joined the faculty of Carver High School in Spartanburg. Here, he taught physical education and organized Carver's first Junior Varsity basketball and track teams. In addition, he served as the school's assistant football coach and was the teams offensive coordinator. He helped lead the Carver Tigers to two Piedmont Conference championships, two state championships, and one state runners-up berth. He also would coach Carver in its last state football championship in 1967. He would go on to become athletic director and assistant principal at Carver before moving to Spartanburg High School; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Henderson would retire from Spartanburg County School District 7 in 1984, following decades as an educator, coach, and administrator. However, his work was far from finished. Elected to the Spartanburg City Council, he served that body from 1991 to 2000 as a member and as mayor pro tem. Other memberships included the NAACP, charter member of Xi Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, he was a founder of the Progressive Men's Club, and active with South Carolina State University; and

 

Whereas, with him during his life's journey was his loving wife of sixty years, Roberta Mattison Henderson. Together they were the parents of two children, Reverend Ronald Henderson, the Honorable Rosalyn Henderson-Meyers, esquire, and Robin Bullock, who blessed them with the affections of six accomplished grandchildren. Mr. Henderson's spiritual home was Majority Baptist Church in Spartanburg where he served as a deacon; and

 

Whereas, following decades of making a difference in the lives he touched in his professional, civic, and spiritual careers, Mr. Roy C. Henderson passed away peacefully on December 22, 2013, leaving in his wake the legacy of a life well lived. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express sympathy for the loss of Mr. Roy C. Henderson and request the Department of Transportation name the portion of South Liberty Street in the City of Spartanburg in Spartanburg County from the C.C. Woodson Community Center to Caulder Avenue "Roy C. Henderson Memorial Street" and erect appropriate signs or markers at this location containing these words.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.

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