Dr. Bill Henderson

CEDAR FALLS-Dr. Bill Henderson, 83, of Cedar Falls, died Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. He was born October 23, 1932, in Oklahoma City, OK, the son of William E. and Margaret Marlow Henderson. He married Carole June Smith and were later divorced. Dr. Henderson received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1975, his M.A. from the University of Houston in 1971, and his B.A. from Central Oklahoma State in 1954. Bill served as Associate Professor (1978-2001) and Director of Forensics (1978-1993) for the Department of Communication Studies. Before Bill arrived at UNI in 1978, he taught at the University of Houston (1973-1978) (Assistant Professor), Macalester College (1971-1973) (Lecturer), University of Houston (1970-1971) (Teaching Assistant), Bellaire High School (1962-1970) (Teacher), Jones High School (1958-1962) (Teacher), and Sand Spring High School (1956-1958) (Teacher), and he worked at the United States Army Signal Corps (1954-1956) (Teletype). He served in many capacities while at the University of Northern Iowa, including, UNI Faculty Senator, Chairperson of College of Humanities and Fine Arts Senate, Vice Chairperson of College of Humanities and Fine Arts Senate, Graduate Academic Appeals Panel member, UNI Orientation participant, Debate Seminar Lecturer, Public Debate Services member, Saturday Workshop in Debate and Individual Events facilitator, host of the College Debate Tournaments and Brindley High School Tournaments, UNI Debate and Individual Events Workshops facilitator, IHSSA Festival committee member, UNI Wine and Dine member, UNI Parent’s Day Reception committee member, Critic for IHSSA Festival, United Faculty Central Committee member, UNI Forensics Banquet chair, and UNI Microcomputer Society member. Survived by: one brother, Robert (Marion) Henderson of Atlanta, GA and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: two brothers, Frank and Floyd Henderson and two sisters, Omah Emitt and Thelma Thompson. A Celebration of Life service will be held on UNI Campus on October 23, 2016, (Bill’s birthday) in the Georgian Lounge of the Commons beginning at 2 p.m. Memorials can be directed to the UNI foundation for the forensics account or to Cedar Valley Hospice. In addition to family and friends, Bill had significant impact on students taught and coached at both the high school and university levels, most notably Bellaire High School (Houston, TX) and the UNI. His legacy rests in the legions of students who profited from his impact on their personal and professional lives.

Dr. Bill Henderson

October 23, 1932 - October 2, 2016