Tom Henderson offers a Boy Scout salute while standing beside a wall of community memorabilia. As longtime scoutmaster of Troop 225, he has guided more than 120 Eagle Scouts—part of the legacy Henderson helped shape through decades of youth development.

NEW ULM — Tom Henderson has spent more than five decades transforming lives in New Ulm through his unwavering commitment to community service and youth development.

The 79-year-old former Brown County Human Services director arrived in New Ulm in 1973 and immediately began making his mark. As scoutmaster for Troop 225, Henderson has guided more than 1,000 young people, including more than 120 Eagle Scouts, through the Boy Scout program.

“I’m a people person,” Henderson said during a recent interview at his home overlooking the Minnesota River valley. “With children, there were some tough things that had happened over the years. It was my goal to be able to get that stopped.”

Henderson’s professional background as a social worker with a master’s degree from the University of Iowa shaped his approach to community involvement. His emphasis on child and family therapy carried over into his volunteer work, creating a comprehensive support system for area youth.

Recently Henderson received a first-time Diamond Award from the Boy Scouts of America for his efforts to raise more than $150,000 to renovate a 79-year-old lodge at Northland Camp, located 30 miles from New Ulm. Constructed the year Henderson was born, the building had fallen into disrepair before the extensive renovation project.

“We took the New Ulm kids there two or three times a year,” Henderson explained. “The building was ready to come down. I was afraid it was going to collapse when our troop was there.”

Beyond scouting, Henderson’s community involvement spans numerous organizations. He has served on the boards of directors for United Way, where he was president twice, and the Association of County Human Service Directors. He received the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans award in 1979 and was recognized as Director of the Year by his professional association.

Henderson’s service extends to current community needs. He remains active with the Optimist Club and the Rotary Club, where he has been a member for 50 years. He volunteers at the New Ulm Medical Center on Wednesday mornings and serves on the committee that selects productions for State Street Theater.

His involvement with NUMAS Haus, a shelter for women and children, reflects his continued dedication to protecting vulnerable populations. Henderson also supports First Choice Pregnancy Center and the New Ulm-Brown County Detox Center, an organization he helped establish.

“Listen, watch, observe how people are living and existing,” Henderson advises other seniors considering community involvement.

“When you see something that you don’t think should be happening, contact police who work very closely with human services.”

He and his wife Shirley have been married since 1975. She was a third-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, teaching in the same building for 41 years before retiring. The couple has one daughter, Sarah Larsen, who works as an environmental chemist for the Minnesota Department of Health.

After 52 years of marriage, Shirley now resides at Oak Hills nursing home, where Henderson visits regularly. Despite personal challenges he continues his community work, embodying the spirit of service that has defined his life in New Ulm.

Henderson’s legacy extends beyond awards and recognition to the thousands of lives he has touched through his dedication to making New Ulm a better place for families and children.