Lafayette Frederick, PhD
Professor Emeritus, former
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, Howard University
To Eva, Dr. Henry's daughter, to Mamie
his sister, and to other members of the family and friends
of Dr. Henry, a writer penned his "moving finger writ,
and having writ moves on." Dr. Henry has lived a marvelous
life among us and having lived, he has moved on. Now
as another writer commented upon the demise of Abraham Lincoln-"Now
he belongs to the ages."
I first met Dr. Henry during the summer of 1941. He had returned
to Tuskegee Institute, his alma mater, to teach. Ten years prior, in 1931,
he was a member of the first four-year graduating class at this institution. When
he graduated he qualified for a triple major with major fields being mathematics,
French, and English. As students we were immediately impressed not only
with his knowledge and reputation as a chemist but also at his savvy way of getting
certain things done. For example, the summer of 1941 the championship tournament
of the National Tennis Association was held on campus. We were surprised
to learn that Dr. Henry has registered to play in the tournament. We had
seen Dr. Henry on the tennis court but hadn't figured that his caliber of play
was worthy of tournament entry. We asked him why he had entered the tournament. His
answer was, "well I like tennis and I want to attend all the matches. It
is less expensive for me to enter the tournament as a player than for me to purchase
a daily spectator's ticket." As we suspected, he was eliminated the
first round. My first involvement, however, with Dr. Henry as a teacher
and mentor came during the spring of 1942. A group of us, fourteen fellow
students wanted a course in organic chemistry, a course that had not been in
the curriculum. We approached the registrar and asked whether she would
agree to schedule such a course the next term if we found an instructor. The
registrar agreed. Since we knew of Dr. Henry's background we approached
him and asked if he would be willing to add this course to his teaching schedule
next term. He agreed and with my enrolling in this course I began a lengthy
and inspiring association with this mentor and friend. As students in the
organic chemistry course, we found him to always be, as countless students through
the ensuing years have found him to be, approachable, exceeding helpful, highly
motivational, exceptionally competent and omniscient but most assuredly demanding
of high standards of performance. He lived in a dormitory room on campus
and when we encountered difficultly with the course, and this was practically
all the time, he would encourage us to stop by his room even if it were midnight
or later for help. In this course we prospered and faltered. Of
the group of 14 students, one received a B, two received C's and the remainder
D's.
A gentle kindly and thoughtful man was the persona of Warren
Henry. Any student at any level who evinced a desire to learn could count
on Dr. Henry for counsel, encouragement, generous assistance, academic or otherwise,
and this help was not restricted just to students in the field of science. Well
versed in widely diverse areas of intellect he was one of the most omniscient
mentors that I've ever encountered. Several years later our paths crossed
again-this time as academic colleagues, here at Howard University. For over fifteen
years we worked in close association with students in a multidisciplinary honors
program, the Minority Access to Research Program, sponsored by the National Institutes
of Health. He endeared himself in his inimitable way to students in this
program and he was much respected and revered.
Francis Bacon has said that "reading maketh a full man,
conference a ready man and writing an exact man." Constant reading gave
Dr. Henry the considerable breadth of knowledge that he possessed. A penchant
for stimulating engagement in conversation on practically any issue caused him
to be a ready participant in any seminar, symposium, conference, or casual conversation. A
keenly analytical mind that communicated ideas with clarity and focus was a
hallmark of the exactness of his approach towards bringing resolution to complex
and perplexing
physical phenomena.
He moved among the great in his field with consummate ease
and confidence and made lasting contributions. He also moved among those of lesser
state and stature with humility, grace, understanding, and left a legacy of spiritual
uplifting and goodwill. Such was the life of Warren Elliott Henry a mentor
who didn't just teach interesting things but moreover made interesting things
the things that he taught.
____________________________________________
D. Kamili Anderson
Director, Howard
University Press
I am very saddened by this
news. Dr. Henry was a beacon of light, friendship, and collegiality for me from
the time I was a student at HU in the 70s, through my years of employment here
to just a few years ago, when I saw him last striding happily--though a bit more
slowly--across his beloved campus. As always, he had a smile and a warm greeting
for me, just as he did when I was a student, though we never once met formally
nor, as I recall, ever exchanged names or other vital information. He was just
that way with everyone: gracious, cordial, professional, and warm.
Dr. Henry exemplified for me then,
and he will always embody, the true "Howard spirit." His selfless and
self-effacing examples of teaching, caring, and sharing form the basis of many
of my interactions with students, faculty, staff, and others here at Howard and
elsewhere. His presence was continually uplifting and inspiring, and I will hold
him fondly in my memory forever.
Unfortunately, I will be on travel
November 9th and will have to miss his memorial service, but if there is anything
that you know of that I can do in remembrance, please let me know.
I will be with you all in spirit in
Rankin Chapel on that day.
