John Henderson (Australian-American blind activist)
Encyclopedia
John B. Henderson, Esq. is an attorney, business executive, sailor and member of the Miami Lighthouse Board. He was an American naval officer and Secretary of Defense operative during the Truman presidency.
A native of Australia, John Henderson came to the U.S. with his parents as a child and settled in Brooklyn
. He attended a military prep school and, later, Brown University
. He was commissioned as a naval officer just before the end of the World War II
.
He later attended graduate school and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School
. As a young lawyer and naval officer he worked as counsel to the Secretary of Defense, writing memos for then President Harry S. Truman
. After government service he became a corporate attorney when he was stricken retinitis pigmentosa
and lost his sight. “I continued working as Vice President and Legal Counsel for Textron
, but I was no longer considered a candidate to be its President”, he recalled.
He carried on as an attorney and businessman. He also continued with his avocation
, sailing, having bought and sailed three different boats after losing his sight. His longest journey was from his home in Providence, Rhode Island
to South Florida after he had retired.
In Florida, he became active with the Miami Lighthouse and joined the Board in the 1990s.
A native of Australia, John Henderson came to the U.S. with his parents as a child and settled in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He attended a military prep school and, later, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. He was commissioned as a naval officer just before the end of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He later attended graduate school and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. As a young lawyer and naval officer he worked as counsel to the Secretary of Defense, writing memos for then President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. After government service he became a corporate attorney when he was stricken retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
and lost his sight. “I continued working as Vice President and Legal Counsel for Textron
Textron
Textron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
, but I was no longer considered a candidate to be its President”, he recalled.
He carried on as an attorney and businessman. He also continued with his avocation
Avocation
An avocation is an activity that one engages in as a hobby outside one's main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside of their workplaces were their true passions in life...
, sailing, having bought and sailed three different boats after losing his sight. His longest journey was from his home in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to South Florida after he had retired.
In Florida, he became active with the Miami Lighthouse and joined the Board in the 1990s.
External links
- http://www.miamilighthouse.org/Articles.asp
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,916293,00.html