When Tom Henderson took on the job of Brown County Human Services Director, the cutting edge of office technology was the IBM Selectric typewriter. The Sony Walkman was six years from being introduced to the public. Ted Turner was seven years away from creating CNN.

That is to say, Henderson has seen a lot of change in the world of human services over his 46 years with Brown County. He has guided his department through changes in administrations, in government regulations, in philosophies on how to deal with problems of poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, mental illness and way we care for those with different abililties.

Henderson will be resigning at the end of July after 46 years in Brown County. He will leave a huge void in leadership and experience. Brown County will hire someone to do his job, but you don’t replace 46 years of experience and knowledge so easily.

Despite his long tenure as the head administrator in Brown County Human Services, Henderson never lost his social worker mentality. People have always come before bureaucracy for him. He cares about people and helping them, and he says he will continue to do so as a part timer in the human services field and as a volunteer.

Happy retirement to you, Tom. Brown County will certainly miss you.