Page 40 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Summer 2022 - Online Magazine

EDMOND HENDERSON

OUTSTANDING FIREFIGHTER

(and friend) FOR

FORTY YEARS

By Edwin Fitzgerald

hen I learned that the attended
next issue of Senior Link there also.
Wwas going to honor
First Responders, I asked if I could In 1978,
honor my dear friend, Edmond Ed was the
Henderson. first African
American
We met in 1976, at the Green Lawn Firefighter
Church of Christ, located on the ever hired
campus of Lubbock Christian by the city
College. Ed was stationed at Reese of Lubbock. After 25 years of
Air Force Base and was attending dedicated service, he retired as a has received his doctorate and is
an evening church service. I offered Lieutenant/Assistant Fire Marshall. now an elementary principal. Ed
to give him a ride back to the base Ed had the pleasure of residing and Doris’ daughter Ebony is a
after the service ended. We have in Lubbock for 27 years before high school teacher in the DFW
been close friends since that time, relocating to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Their daughter Erica is also a
and down through the years, we area. In 2003, Ed was hired by the high school teacher. All three are
have always managed to stay in Mansfield, TX Fire Department as products of LISD and Texas Tech.
contact. an Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal.
In 2010, he was hired by the Forest Ed is fully committed to the service
Chief Henderson graduated from Hill, TX Fire Department as the Fire of Jesus Christ. He has served as
Carver High School, Delray Beach, Chief. After serving in this career for a deacon in several churches and
Florida in 1972 and entered the 40 years, Ed retired in 2016. now serves as an elder in the Forest
United States Air Force 18 days Hills Church of Christ. While living
later. He began his firefighting Ed’s career as a first responder is in Lubbock, Ed hosted a radio
career in the USAF and served commendable, but there is more show on Sunday nights. He would
in San Antonio, TX; Danville, to his life. He married a beautiful, answer questions from callers and
Illinois; Tucson, Arizona; Frankfort, spirit-filled lady named Doris, and encourage the audience to know
Germany; and Lubbock, TX. In together they have blessed the lives and follow Jesus. He has a heart for
1976, Ed received an honorable of so many. There were seasons of people and has served others to the
discharge from the USAF at Reese trial in their lives, but their faith glory of God.
AF Base in Lubbock and decided to in God sustained them. Ed and
see if Lubbock had more to offer. Doris had a son in November 1979, Ed Henderson is a quiet and
He found an apartment and an Edmond Henderson III. Shortly humble man. He would not seek
entry-level job with JC Penney. He thereafter, the child was diagnosed attention. He is a dear friend and
also became an active member of with cerebral palsy and successfully brother, and he so deserves to be
the 20th and Birch St. Church of endured some 20 different surgeries. highlighted as one of Lubbock’s
Christ and started dating a girl who Fast forward to the present, Ed III Best First Responders.

40 Lubbock Senior Link