Falk Names Recipients of Dane County's 2003 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recognition Award

January 16, 2003
Ken Haynes, 266-4040
County Executive

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today announced the joint-recipients of the 2003 Dane County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recognition Award for leadership in Dane County and for exemplifying the legacy of Dr. King. County Executive Falk will present the award at the 18th Annual City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance on Monday, January 20, at the Madison Civic Center (Oscar Mayer Theater). The program begins at 6:00 p.m. “I am delighted to announce that Virginia M. Henderson, Ph.D. and Perry A. Henderson, M.D. were selected as joint-recipients of the 2003 Dane County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recognition Award. These individuals work tirelessly, in many capacities, to provide hope, energy, enthusiasm and the tools for success to so many in our community, helping people to see their own unique strength and beauty” said Falk. The recipients: VIRGINIA M. HENDERSON, Ph.D. has encouraged young people to pursue excellence through education for decades. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Spellman College, M.A. in Psychology from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction & Developmental Psychology from the University of New Mexico. Henderson worked as a pediatric and school psychologist in Indiana, Ohio and the state of Washington, and was assistant professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Dr. Henderson began her work as a school psychologist for the Madison Metropolitan School District in 1976 and retired from that position in 1997. She continues to serve as the school district’s diversity consultant. Henderson has participated in numerous professional organizations and is currently in the National Association for School Psychologists and the African American Educators Association. Henderson is past co-chair of the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund and continues to serve on the advisory board. She is past vice president of the American Baptist Assembly Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin. She presently serves on the Women’s Health Initiative Community Advisory Board. She is a founding member and active participant in Women in Focus, which provides programs and services to minority children and youth. Henderson is a founding member and president of the board of directors of the African American Ethnic Academy and co-director of their Summer Science Program. Henderson has been a board member of the Madison Children’s Museum since 1998 and serves on the boards of the Madison Community Foundation and The Evjue Foundation. Henderson is a founding member and active participant in the Foundation for Madison Schools. PERRY A. HENDERSON, M.D. received his B.S. degree from Morehouse College and M.D. from Western Reserve University School of Medicine with a specialty in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Henderson was Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School from 1976-97 and presently enjoys the status of Professor Emeritus. Henderson has been an Honorary Medical Staff member of Meriter Hospital since 1997. Henderson is past assistant governor for Rotary International, past board member and current member of the Rotary Club of Madison, and past president of the Madison Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. Henderson is a founding member of The Perinatal Foundation that works to ensure the health and well being of mothers. The organization has assets of $4.3 million to fund research, education and service in perinatal care. Henderson is past president and current member of 100 Black Men of Madison. Henderson was named Father of the Year by the Madison Chapter of the American Diabetes Association in June 2002. Perry and Virginia Henderson are parents of Sheryl L. Henderson, M.D., Ph.D. who is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Infectious Diseases at Emory University in Atlanta, GA; Virginia L. Henderson, M.A. who is a Psychological Counselor and Script-Writer for “The Division” on Lifetime Television and “The District” on CBS; and Perry A. Henderson, Jr., J.D. who is an attorney with Looney and Grossman, LLP in Boston, MA. Perry and Virginia Henderson travel extensively in connection with their Rotary work and other interests. Visited countries include Canada, Scotland, Singapore and Spain. The Hendersons were part of a group of Wisconsin Rotarians who participated in Polio Plus National Immunization Day in Chandigarh, India in 1999. The Hendersons have made several trips to Africa and have visited Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Gabon and South Africa. “Our community is very fortunate to have such committed, talented and tireless people, of international experience and perspective, working hard to make Dane County an even better place for all of us. And we join together in congratulating Virginia and Perry Henderson as the recipients of the 2003 Dane County Martin Luther King, Jr. Recognition Award. They continue to fan the eternal flame of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Falk. # # #