[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 20 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN MEMORY OF MR. WILLIAM ``W.T.'' THOMAS HENRY, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 31, 2019

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a loving 
husband, dedicated father, doting grandfather, distinguished educator, 
and committed servant to humankind, Mr. William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry. 
Sadly, W.T. passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019. His funeral will 
be held on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the First United 
Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia. He leaves behind a host of family 
and a legacy of service that will never be forgotten.
  William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry, Sr. was born on October 7, 1938, to 
the union of the late Jeff and Ludie Gray Henry in Colquitt, Georgia. 
He graduated from Miller County High school in 1956, where his athletic 
prowess allowed him to letter in several sports. W.T. went on to attend 
Young Harris College and Troy State University where he earned a 
Bachelor's degree in Education. Never one to rest on his laurels, he 
went on to earn Master's degrees in Physical Education and 
Administration Supervision from Florida State University.
  W.T. found his true calling and purpose in life by working with our 
most precious resource, young people. His prodigious career in 
education spanned 46 remarkable years in both public and private 
schools. W.T. positively impacted the lives of students at Arlington 
High School, Damascus High School, Miller County High School, and 
Albany Junior High School. He taught math and coached basketball, 
track, football, and basketball. W.T. taught his athletes how to be 
successful on the courts and athletic fields, but more importantly he 
taught them skills that would help them to succeed in the game of life. 
W.T. left the classroom and the athletic fields to conquer his next 
challenge, School Administration. He became the principal of Miller 
County High School and blazed the trail for others by becoming the 
founding headmaster of Southwest Georgia Academy in 1970.
  He left his true love for a short time and worked in the peanut 
industry. But, he quickly realized this endeavor was not for him and 
returned to education. He moved to Albany, Georgia and became the Lower 
School Director for Deerfield-Windsor School. Because he excelled in 
this position, he became the Headmaster of Deerfield-Windsor School, 
retiring after 20 years of extraordinary service in 2009.
  His tentacles of service stretched far beyond the schools at which he 
served with distinction. He was a former President of the Georgia 
Independent Schools and he also served on the Georgia State Board of 
Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the 
Georgia Accrediting Commission.
  Most importantly, W.T. was a man of God and was guided by his faith. 
He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church and 
served on its Board of Directors.
  W.T. loved his family and instilled in them the values of faith in 
God, hard work, and a commitment to serving their fellow man. He had an 
infectious personality and never met a stranger. He had a special gift 
of saying the right thing to someone who was in distress at just the 
right time.
  W.T. Henry was a great man and accomplished many things in his life, 
but none of these things would have been possible without the love and 
support of his family. His legacy lives on through his wife, Ruth; his 
children, Lea, Bo, and Kristin; his grandchildren, and all of those 
whose lives he touched.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, 
along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second 
Congressional District of Georgia in saluting and honoring the life of 
Mr. William ``W.T.'' Thomas Henry for his commitment to young people 
and humankind and in extending our deepest condolences to Mr. Henry's 
family during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they 
will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit 
in the days, weeks, and months ahead.