UT’s Oldest Living Letterman Will Be Honorary Captain at Kansas State Game
It’s been more than 75 years since John Henderson suited up to play in a UT football game, but that won’t stop him from walking out on the field at Saturday’s UT-Kansas State match-up.
At 100 years old, Henderson, BA ’36, Life Member, is UT’s oldest living football player—he played guard for the ‘Horns back in the mid-1930s. The Longhorn legend will serve as honorary captain at this weekend’s Big 12 opener, marking his 81st year in a row to attend a UT football game.
The honorary captaincy isn’t Henderson’s first accolade: at his Texas-sized 100th birthday celebration last year, declarations were written by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Gov. Rick Perry, and President Jimmy Carter in his honor. Leffingwell also officially designated Dec. 24, Henderson’s birthday, as “John Henderson Day.”
Henderson and his wife of 73 years, Charlotte, BA ’37, Life Member, were the first residents to move into the Texas Exes’ retirement community, Longhorn Village. Today, Henderson is known as the “unofficial mayor” of the community, and can often be spotted lifting weights in the gym and walking three miles every day around the property.
Above, watch the tribute video created for Henderson’s 100th birthday party last year.
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