___ Former Associated Press reporter David Mercer contributed to this report.. After playing basketball at Okay High School, Connors State College, and New Mexico A & M, Lou pursued a coaching career. It took him six years before the Illini posted a winning record in Big Ten Conference play, that unit of Derek Harper, Perry Range, Derek Holcomb, Eddie Johnson and Mark Smith finishing 12-6.
Lou Henson Jr., 35, son of University of Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson, died in a car accident in Urbana, IL.
'There are so many parts of Coach’s life to admire, starting with his marriage to his wife, Mary. A son, 35-year-old Lou Henson Jr., died in a 1992 car accident. After playing basketball at Okay High School, Connors State College and New Mexico A&M, Lou … Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). His popularity swelled evermore during this period, and many who had complained about an Illini basketball loss became a fast friend.The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame was just one of numerous honors. Also surviving Lou are his personal cheerleader of 65 years, Mary Catherine Brantner Henson, formerly of Lanark, Ill., and three daughters, Lori Jo Henson of Las Cruces, N.M., Lisa Rose (John) Rutter of Spring, Texas, and Leigh Anne (Coit) Edison of Loveland, Ohio. A mix of clouds and sun. These Illini were seldom outhustled, outworked or better prepared.
Henson’s teams won 20 or more games in four of the next five seasons.Lou and Mary made deep impressions and are revered in both of their cities.They became deeply involved with the Cunningham Children’s Home here, and the Boys and Girls Club in Las Cruces.
Lou had seven siblings: Alma, Bill, Jimmy Joe, J.D., Rose Mary, Donald and Kenneth. He returned home in a wheelchair due to paralysis and other trauma.Lou’s assistant, Tony Stubblefield, took over as head coach during this health crisis. Thanks to our sponsors: View all sponsors. Henson was buried next to his son, Lou Jr., on Fourth Street, across the street from the Dick Butkus statue and half a block from State Farm Center.
1 choice of the second group.Earlier this year, Henson was scheduled to attend the 50th anniversary celebration of his 1970 Final Four at NMSU, but canceled due to health concerns. Bob Knight’s Hoosiers added to their 1976 NCAA championship with titles in 1981 and 1987. After his retirement, Henson …
Michigan closed out a strong decade with the 1989 NCAA crown.In that span, no team had greater disappointments in NCAA play than Illinois, Henson’s teams bowing out of the NCAA tournament in some particularly memorable frustrations: 57-52 to Kansas State, 54-51 to Kentucky (ending the NCAA’s policy of allowing teams to play at home), 58-56 to Alabama, 68-67 to Austin Peay, 66-61 to Villanova and, in the 1989 Final Four, 83-81 to champion Michigan.Illinois was at its peak with Henson’s Flying Illini when an NCAA investigation, highly debatable in its origin and handling, chilled recruiting and slowed the program, ultimately influencing Henson to step down in 1996.Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.
He had formerly served as head basketball coach at Lincoln Land Community College and was employed in the same position with Parkland College at the time of his death. This tragic event ended a long-held mutual love and passion for the game of basketball that Lou so eagerly shared with his cherished son.Lou retired from the University of Illinois in 1996 as the school’s all-time winningest coach with 423 victories in 21 seasons.In the fall of 1997, Lou once again took over the reins of the New Mexico State University basketball program after they had parted ways with their coach only two days before practice was to begin. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.CHAMPAIGN — Louis Ray “Lou” Henson was born on Jan. 10, 1932, to Joe Henson and Lora Faye Falconer Henson and grew up on a small farm near Okay, Okla., (population 300) located between Wagoner and Muskogee. Although his cancer was in remission, one year later he contracted viral encephalitis.
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Henson is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughters Lisa, Lori and Leigh Anne. The day before he was scheduled to take the court again, he was hospitalized with pneumonia, which ultimately ended his coaching career.Although Lou worked tirelessly to begin to walk again, the encephalitis impacted his balance. At that time (1962), there were no African Americans on campus either as student-athletes or faculty members. Henson was buried next to his son, Lou Jr., on Fourth Street, across the street from the Dick Butkus statue and half a block from State Farm Center. Henson is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughters Lisa, Lori and Leigh Anne. The Flyin’ Illini were considered one of the most entertaining teams in collegiate basketball history and captured the hearts of Illini Nation and basketball fans everywhere!In the fall of 1992, the Hensons were devastated by the loss of their 35-year-old son, Lou Henson, Jr., who died in an auto accident. Mr. Henson … With his powerhouse partner Mary Henson directing traffic, he battled back every time the light flickered … until the bulb simply faded out from years of stress.Blessed with a particular skill in developing athletes, Henson was nevertheless the common man.In a rare experience for college coaches, Henson shared residences in both communities where he coached — Champaign and Las Cruces, N.M.Among his multitude of honors, the basketball courts will continue to carry his name at both the UI’s State Farm Center and New Mexico State’s Pan American Center, which was constructed during his first stint there.Henson was buried next to his son, Lou Jr., on Fourth Street, across the street from the Dick Butkus statue and half a block from State Farm Center.Lou Henson with assistant coaches Tony Yates, middle, and Les Woethke.Henson coached a half-century, dating to 1955-56 at Las Cruces High School (where he won three state championships) and running into his second stop at New Mexico State before a serious collapse — medication for non-Hodgkins — led to viral encephalitis and forced his resignation during the 2004-05 season. A son, 35-year-old Lou Henson Jr., died in a 1992 car accident.
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