Civil rights activist and OU professor George Henderson announced his retirement after a 58-year career with the university.
In a Facebook post Saturday, Henderson wrote about his retirement and thanked students for their impact on him.
“I will always cherish the educational transformative moments that we had together,” Henderson wrote.
Before he came to Norman, Henderson lived in Detroit, where he advocated for racial equality and civil rights issues and served in various leadership positions along with civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Henderson moved to Norman in 1967, joining OU as the third full-time Black professor at the university.
“My wife and I were the first Black (couple) to own property in Norman. So we saw the good, the bad and the ugly,” Henderson said. “We had some bad things happen, but for every bad thing that happened, a good thing.”
In 1969, Henderson established the Human Relations Department at OU and developed its curriculum.
“I did the best that I could,” Henderson said about creating opportunities with the new department. “I'm satisfied with my contributions.”
Henderson was awarded the 1992 Distinguished Service Award from OU. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003 and awarded the 2004 Otis Sullivant Perceptivity Award.
During his time at OU, Henderson worked to uplift Black voices on campus and helped create the Black Student Association, a student organization dedicated to supporting Black students at OU.
That mission of support goes beyond academic and institutional efforts, Henderson said. Henderson said he worked to make his students feel a part of his family.
“I helped them. I mentored them. Our house was open to them for whatever activities they wanted,” Henderson said. “Students were like our extended family members.”
In 2001, the Henderson Scholars Program was established in Henderson’s honor. The program aims to provide access to higher education to a diverse group of students and create opportunities for service and learning.
Miles Kelly, director of the Henderson Scholars Program, said he works to uphold the values of Henderson while working with students.
“A lot of us have lived out his vision and his teaching, his scholarship through our academic programs and degrees,” Kelly said. “It's really about a true partnership or a friendship with students.”
Kelly took the position of program director in October 2019. Since the first meeting with Henderson, Kelly said he has worked closely with Henderson.
“Dr. Henderson changed my life. He challenged me,” Kelly said. “He's a true champion. He's a constant mentor and he's fully present.”
Kelly says that he will continue to show up and lead the way Henderson led.
“We will continue to lead with love,” Kelly said.
On Facebook, Henderson wrote about how his former students impacted him.
“I thank each and every student who was in at least one of my classes,” Henderson wrote. “Mutual respect and love bound us together.”
Summer McGuire, a former student of Henderson, said she took one of Henderson’s classes during the first semester of her master’s program. McGuire said this class and Henderson himself had a profound impact on her both professionally and personally.
“I just remember after that first class, and that was like, 20 years ago, just being so in awe, and just like, this is where I belong,” McGuire said.
Henderson said it's an honor to leave an impact on students.
“I feel that as a teacher, I have grown, I have benefited, I've been blessed,” Henderson said. “Of all of the awards and honors that I've received, the greatest award and honor was to have the ability to be a teacher to students.”
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele.
