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Bob Henderson Papers

Collection 240

Henderson, Bob (1930–1996). Papers, 1913–1986, n.d.

15 feet, 0.5 inches

Robert Benjamin “Bob” Henderson was born on 27 July 1930 in Ruston, Louisiana, the only son of Samuel Jacob and Ruby Irene Richardson Henderson. He was a graduate of Ruston High School in 1947. He earned two degrees from Louisiana Tech, a B.S. in Education (Physical Education) in 1952 and a B.A. in Arts and Sciences (Public Relations-Journalism) in 1955. On 7 August 1958, he married Judith Kay Anderson of Peoria, Illinois. He died 22 October 1996.

From 1947-1955 Henderson served in the U.S. Air Force, including almost two years during the Korean conflict. He was also sports editor of the Ruston (LA) Daily Leader as well as a member of the Shreveport (LA) Times newspaper staff.

Henderson became Instructor of Journalism and News Bureau Director at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro in 1956. In addition, he was director of the All-American City Basketball tournament. He joined the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) Athletic Department on 1 July 1960 as the first Sports Information Director at any state supported institution in Louisiana. After a nine-month tenure in St. Louis, he resumed his Sports Information Director duties 1 July 1962 at USL, serving until 1 January 1972. Henderson worked in 1973 for the USL Century Club as Public Relations Director for the Bayou Classic Basketball Tournament. For the next nine years, from 1973-1982, he was Evangeline Downs PR-Publicity Director. He then briefly worked for the Lafayette Advertiser as a business writer before his health forced him to retire.

This collection consists of personal files, working files, and artifacts and oversize. The first part of his working files pertain to Athletics and the second part pertains to horse racing from the period when he was the publicity director at Evangeline Downs. In these files, there are photographs, correspondence, publications, newspaper articles, and pamphlets.

Note: The following folders are RESTRICTED: 6-01 through 6-09

WARNING: Folder 4-18 contains photographs with graphic, racist, and disturbing imagery. To preserve historical integrity, these photographs are retained in this collection.

Series:

A. Personal Files
  1. Irene Richardson Henderson (Bob Henderson’s Mother) 1-01 through 1-13
  2. Samuel Henderson (Bob Henderson’s Father) 1-14
  3. Bob Henderson 1-15 through 1-35
  4. Henderson Family 1-36 through 1-48
B. Working Files
  1. Athletic Sports  
      a. Photographs 1-49 through 2-03
      b. Correspondence 2-04
      c. Financial Records 2-05
      d. Creative Works 2-06 through 2-11
      e. General Records 2-12 through 3-06
      f. Publications 3-07 through 4-14
      g. Miscellaneous 4-15 through 4-19
  2. Horse Racing  
      a. Photographs 4-20 through 4-34
      b. Correspondence 4-35
      c. General Records 4-36 through 4-47
      d. Publications  
          i. Newspaper Clippings 4-48
          ii. Magazine Articles 4-49
          iii. Leaflets 4-50
          iv. Programs, Souvenir 4-51 through 4-52
          v. Magazines 4-53 through 4-55
          vi. Books 4-56 through 5-02
          vii. Pamphlets 5-03 through 5-30
          viii. Miscellaneous 5-31 through 5-34
               
Restricted Materials Box 6
               
C. Artifacts and Oversize  
  1. Framed Certificates, Articles, and Photographs 7-01 through 8-07
  2. Papers and Books 9-01 through 10-02
  3. Plaques 11-01 through 12-08
  4. Artifacts 13-01 through 13-17
  5. Oversize Poster, Photographs, and Board Game Map Case 44-06

Inventory:

Henderson, Bob (1930-1996). Papers, 1913-1986, n.d. (PDF)