Donald Ray Henson, 78
Passed away Saturday, September 23, 2017
Don was born in Louisville to the late Harold Franklin and Kathleen Henson. He played football and ran track during his time at Southern High School. He was afforded a great opportunity to travel with his wife to countless countries and continents during their time with Friendship Force.
He formerly worked as a national account manager for Xerox and operated as a land developer as one of the principals of HFH Inc. He was an avid University of Kentucky Football fan and served his country in the United States Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife of 57 years, Karen Rogers Henson; and son, Scott Henson. Survivors include his daughter, Renotta Henson (Becky McKinley); brothers, Ronald D. Henson (Patsy Tinnell) and Philip H. Henson.
Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Tuesday at Ratterman and Sons, 10600 Taylorsville Road. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ratterman and Sons, with burial to follow at Resthaven Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Youth for Christ, 4102 W Market St., Louisville, KY 40212. Online condolences may be shared at www.Ratterman.com.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Don Henson
Crestwood KY
Email: Click Here
"My Xerox career started in 1968 with a great deal of wonder"
I wondered why Paul Logsdon had plaques all over his office walls, and Rich Fuchs had none. Both were sales managers! Rich said his were packed away. Why did Dave Deeb walk around yukking all the time? Camel jock talk. Why did Bill Hetzel, Louisville Branch Manager, remove all chairs from the bullpen? So sales reps would spend less time in the office. We went to Air Devils Inn instead ! Needless to say I was in the right place with a bunch of strange people, laughing, joking, zany, but didn’t we have a great time?
My first sales territory was north of Broadway, west of tenth street, west of 18th street and south to county line. I was told it had more potential than any other. As a young cub, to me, it truly did. Now was the time to get a few plaques!!
In 1970 a sales team was formed including Gary Shuetz, Sal Marino and me as team leader, with my high potential territory! Talking about “hungry guys” this team won $1,000 in our first contest. We all went to dinner with wives and guys had two entrees of “steak and lobster”.
In 1971 Karen and I adopted Scott (5) and Renotta (6) siblings. We built a home in Crestwood, Oldham County. Stability was important to us and we never moved for a better job. My two brothers and daughter, Renotta live within a mile. Scott died in 1994 but he is still with us in spirit.
In 1972, Paul Logsdon moved on to greater heights and I became the Xerox Account Manager for GE, and for major accounts. In those days, everyone helped each other. Experienced reps trained us. Administration helped with billing, proposal writing, etc.What would we have done without service? The tech reps went on tough sales calls with us.
We were all friends and golfed, fished and partied together.
The amazing Xerox experience created a spirit so special to the Louisville Branch, that we were recognized countrywide. “Come” we said, “and study us and you can learn our high goals and standards”.In 1974 I was promoted to National Account Manager for General Electric, and had various locations over a 15-year time period. Travel was involved and was controllable. I visited many other Branch Offices but Louisville was head and shoulders above them all. Why? A combination of talented people, cohesive, with a spirit and confidence accustomed to winning. However, I never saw as many plaques as Paul Logsdon had. My most memorable award was a 'little red hat with yellow feather' a roadrunner from Evansville. I still have it! The other awards are packed away, but I didn’t have as many as Paul Logsdon.
Later in 1985 I was promoted to Senior National Account Manager after closing an order for (8) 9200's and recognized as vendor of the year by GE. With that of course, was a bigger budget next year.
I left Xerox in 1987 on my terms and no hard feeling. At that time I was reporting to Joe Mulcahy VP at Corporate, (incidentally his wife Anne Mulcahy just retired from Xerox as Chairman of the Board), some of my friends were retiring and some had died. It was time to go, a new era was coming, and The 'Spirit of Xerox' was changing. Looking back, Louisville had the greatest group of people, amazingly competitive, close knit and loyal.
The next phase of my business career was with Bill Hinton and Harry Frazier. We formed 'HFH' and focused on real estate development. We were very successful in a high risk, big money business. In 1992 I left HFH, moved my office to Crestwood. and since, dabbled in smaller projects.
Several old Xeroids stop by and some ask do you work? “If doing what you want, when, for whom, and how much, then, yes I work”. Now at age 72, I learned that loving other people and trusting God, we can explore limits, push harder and achieve what your mind didn't think you could.
Like all of you, “being positive keeps us young”.
“Yes we can, and yes we did great things together”
Click here to see more of Don Henson's Xerox pictures
Karen Rogers Henson, Wife of Don Henson,
77, passed away Friday, May 5, 2017.
Karen was born in Buffalo, New York to the late Vernon W. and Ethel C. Rogers. She was afforded a great opportunity to travel to countless countries and continents during her time with Friendship Force. Her passion for the arts and drama was exercised through her 26 years of volunteer service to the Center for Performing Arts. She was a member of the Homemakers and enjoyed painting fine china and Faberge eggs, which she incorporated into the theme of her travels.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Scott Henson.
Survivors include her loving husband of 57 years, Don Henson; daughter, Renotta Henson; grandchildren, Austin and Isabella.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday at Ratterman and Sons, 10600 Taylorsville Road. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ratterman and Sons, with burial to follow at Resthaven Cemetery.
See Obituary here: http://www.ratterman.com/obituaries/Karen-Henson/
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Homemakers of Kentucky - Louisville Chapter. Online condolences may be shared at www.Ratterman.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
77, passed away Friday, May 5, 2017.
Karen was born in Buffalo, New York to the late Vernon W. and Ethel C. Rogers. She was afforded a great opportunity to travel to countless countries and continents during her time with Friendship Force. Her passion for the arts and drama was exercised through her 26 years of volunteer service to the Center for Performing Arts. She was a member of the Homemakers and enjoyed painting fine china and Faberge eggs, which she incorporated into the theme of her travels.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Scott Henson.
Survivors include her loving husband of 57 years, Don Henson; daughter, Renotta Henson; grandchildren, Austin and Isabella.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday at Ratterman and Sons, 10600 Taylorsville Road. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ratterman and Sons, with burial to follow at Resthaven Cemetery.
See Obituary here: http://www.ratterman.com/obituaries/Karen-Henson/
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Homemakers of Kentucky - Louisville Chapter. Online condolences may be shared at www.Ratterman.com
_____________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment