The motto of Rotary International is “Service Above Self.”
That motto is a wonderful and accurate description of the life of Michael Henley, better known to all of us as Mike.
His largest contribution was his leadership at three local schools, Varnado High, Franklinton High, and Bowling Green School, serving all three as principal. Legions of students at the three schools benefitted from his steady hand on the tiller, and his caring and concerned connection with the young people he helped educate.
In particular, I remember an emotional encounter with Mike. This was back in the 1990’s. One of his students had been killed in an automobile accident, and I was writing an article for The Era-Leader about the tragedy.
I called Mike for a comment. Instead of offering a comment, he drove across town from the school to my office and spoke to me for at least a half hour about the student. Mike was clearly shaken and at one point he became emotional and could not speak.
That was the essence of Mike Henley: A caring educator and administrator who handled the very tough job of high school principal well at three different schools, all the while never forgetting that the students were always totally the priority.
But being a principal was only one part of Mike’s service above self.
His civic accomplishments can only be termed as amazing. It’s hard to believe that one man could undertake as many community obligations as he did, and do well at all of them.
As Fair president, as a major volunteer with the Red Cross, as a supremely active Rotarian, and in literally dozens of other capacities, Mike lived his life with “service above self” as a daily refrain.
His volunteerism wasn’t limited to his community and his parish. He was also a longtime member of the Louisiana National Guard, serving his country. And following his Guard service Mike was a leader of American Legion Post 24. He was in the Post’s Honor Guard, providing military tributes for the funerals of our veterans.
This was a life well-lived and, truly, one of “Service Above Self.”
