Ottawa Hall of Fame tennis coach Tom Henderson a legend in sport, community

‘He was able to bring the best out of people’

February 18, 2021 at 5:30 am CST

Former Ottawa High School tennis coach Tom Henderson [second from left] received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association in 2018. Henderson, flanked by current OHS tennis coaches Tracey O'Fallon, Steve Johnson, and Matt Gross, is one of only three recipients of the award.

Every once in a while, you hear someone talk about a player or coach being on the Mount Rushmore of his or her specific sport – meaning they are deemed the best of the best.

It would be quite a debate in the history of Ottawa High School athletics to narrow down the top coaches who have led the Pirates or Lady Pirates over the years, but you would be hard-pressed to leave Tom Henderson, who died January 24, 2021, in Goodyear, Ariz., at the age of 90, off that exclusive list.

Brian Hoxsey

I worked for 25 years as a CNC operator and in 2005 answered an ad in The Times for a freelance sports writer position. I became a full-time sports writer/columnist for The Times in February of 2016. I enjoy researching high school athletics history, and in my spare time like to do the same, but also play video games and watch Twitch.