James Henderson, also known to many students as Dean Henderson, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1942. While growing up in South Philadelphia, Dean Henderson became a member of the Christian Street YMCA and developed his love of basketball. His outstanding basketball skills enabled him to meet and compete against many of basketball's most celebrated and outstanding players including Wilt Chamberlain, Wali Jones and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. Dean Henderson played in the very prestigious Semi-Pro Sonny Hill Basketball League and became recognized as one of the top players coming out of South Philadelphia.
After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, Dean Henderson attended South Carolina State University on a basketball scholarship. While he worked hard at being successful on the basketball court, he did not apply the same work ethic in the classroom. As such, Dean Henderson left South Carolina State after one year and was drafted into the United States Army. He completed his tour of duty while stationed at the Seneca Army Depot, located outside of Geneva, NY.
Although Dean Henderson loved basketball, he did understand the importance of obtaining a higher education and hard work. Shortly after his arrival in Geneva, he continued his formal education by enrolling at Cayuga Community College, and in 1975, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Hobart College.
Because of his own educational experience, Dean Henderson was keenly aware of the important role of education in helping young people build a strong foundation for life. It was this belief, along with his passion for helping people, that led him to begin crafting his career in educational counseling. After a brief period as a Home and School Adviser for the Geneva Board of Education, he began working at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) in 1971. During his 24 years of dedicated service as an administrator at HWS, he served as a counselor in the Office of Minority Affairs; the first Director of the Developmental Learning Center (later renamed the Center for Academic Support Services or CASS); Assistant to the Dean for Academic Support Services; and Assistant Dean of the Colleges in the Office of Intercultural Affairs. It was during this time that Dean Henderson developed his infamous "13 P's" (A Potent Philosophy, Preparation, and Prior Proper Planning will Positively Prevent Piss Poor Performance Permanently, but if all else fails, PRAY!) which he used as an educational model to help students understand the importance of applying themselves in their studies. For his many accomplishments at HWS, Dean Henderson was awarded the very prestigious Druid Award, which is given annually by the Hobart College Senior Honorary Society to a teacher or administrator who exemplifies the highest personal attributes of character, leadership and loyalty.
After his early retirement from HWS, his passion for helping students led him to accept the position of Dean of Students at Newark High School in Newark, NY, where he concluded a very illustrious and much accomplished career in educational counseling.
In addition to helping students, Dean Henderson was also committed to helping his community. During the 45 years that he resided in Geneva, his contributions to the community included serving in the following roles: Vice President of Membership for the Finger Lakes Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Member of the Geneva Human Rights Commission; Charter Member of the Board of Directors for the GHIC; and Board Member for the Geneva Planned Parenthood. He was also instrumental in the movement to establish the Geneva Boys and Girls Club. In culmination of his involvement in community affairs, the NAACP presented Dean Henderson with the Mary Ann Mallard Community Award for "untiring and unselfish service rendered" to the community in 2004.
During Dean Hendersom's tour of duty at the Seneca Army Depot, he met and married Elizabeth Kenney Henderson, a native of Geneva. They had a son and daughter, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson and Debra Henderson Rideout. Dean Henderson's greatest enjoyment came from his involvement in the lives and many achievements of his son and daughter. It's safe to say that he was not only an avid supporter of his children, but was indeed their "number one fan."
Dean Henderson passed away on January 26, 2007. He took great pride in assisting students with their academic performance: their success being his greatest reward. His many contributions to education and to the students at HWS and in the Geneva area will have a profound and lasting imprint.
Lillian Elizabeth Williams Collins was born on November 21, 1948 in Sanford, Florida to Charlie Williams and the late Katherine Jackson Williams Pearson. She migrated to Geneva, New York in the late 1950s with her three brothers to join her parents. In 1966, she graduated from Geneva High School and on March 6, 1967 she came to work at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Lillian began her HWS career as a Secretary in the Office of Publications with June L. Thomas. Over the years, she held many positions including Secretary in the Office of Alumni Relations and Administrative Assistant in the Office of Development. The majority of Lillian's tenure at the Colleges was spent as an Assistant to the Vice President for Development. During this time, she developed life-long friendships with former Vice Presidents, including Sharon P. Best '62, Charles J. Haight, James M. Kraus '74 and Dr. Roy Dexheimer '55. She worked briefly with Michael J. Catillaz during his tenure. Currently she works with Karen Ilacqua Reuscher '88 as a Senior Research Specialist in the Office of Advancement Services.
Over the last four plus decades, Lillian has outlasted five HWS Presidents, as well as one Acting President, and is likely to give President Gearan a run for his money. She has witnessed the Colleges' drastic transformation over the years, with the construction of buildings such as Emerson Hall, the Warren Hunting Smith Library/L. Thomas Melly '52 Center, and the Scandling Center, named after her good friend, the late William F. Scandling '49.
Although Lillian has spent her entire HWS career at Alumni House, she is better known for the tireless hours that she has contributed across the entire campus. A woman of few words, Lillian brings new meaning to the term servant leader. She has volunteered at campus activities, offered her services and expertise to events sponsored by organizations affiliated with the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and most importantly, has been a mother-away-from-home to an endless number of HWS students.
Black, white, brown, yellow or red, all students who have experienced Lillian's spirit of giving have been touched by and wholeheartedly appreciated her care packages. She may not have had a lot of money, but she was willing to share and help someone in need, teaching colleagues and students alike how to stretch a dollar by using coupons. Lillian has also played a key role in ensuring that the Colleges were connected to the community. Any lecture, party or program that she thought would benefit someone, especially the community of color, she shared the information.
In her free time, Lillian has enjoyed serving on the boards of the Human Rights Commission, the Ontario Day Care Center, and for many years as campus liaison for the United Way of Ontario County. She is a long-time member and Treasurer at St. Paul's Full Gospel Baptist Church. In 1995, she was honored by the Geneva Chapter of the NAACP as the first recipient of the Mary Ann Mallard Community Service Award; she also received the Martin Luther King Committee Community Service Award in 2006.
"To whom much is given, much is required." "It is better to give, than to receive." "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed." This is Lillian, Miss Lil, Lily Girl, Miss Lillian, Coupon Queen-Collins.
