James Henderson

HENDERSON, James Arnold 1912 2008 James Arnold Henderson was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba in 1912 and grew up on the family farm near Cardale Manitoba. He earned a D.V.M. from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, in 1936 and an M.Sc. at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1938. Dr. Henderson's professional career at the University of Illinois was interrupted by four years of service in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1942 he was seconded to Cambridge University and the Milk Marketing Board as the general advisor on the establishment and operation Great Britain's first bovine artificial insemination program. It was at the Milk Marketing Board that Jim met his future wife, Valerie Gertrude Underhill. In 1946 Dr. Henderson assumed the position of professor in the Clinical Department of the Ontario Veterinary College. In 1950, he became Head of the Clinical Department. He was twice elected as the Canadian representative to the Executive Board of the American Veterinary Medical Association and served as the President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association in 1958-1959. In collaboration with Dr. Douglas C. Blood he published the classic text book, Veterinary Medicine, still used in veterinary colleges around the world. In 1963, Dr. Henderson became Dean of the College Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. He retired from professional life in 1973. Dr. Henderson led an active and productive life for the last thirty-five years here on Vancouver Island. He returned to the life of his childhood, living in various rural locations near Victoria, keeping some cattle, raising Norwegian Fiord horses and generally enjoying an outdoor life. He is survived by his wife, Valerie, two sons, three grandchildren and a great granddaughter. A private Open House celebration of Jim's life with family and friends will be held at 268 Milburn Dr. on Jan. 10, 2009 from 1 to 4pm. 518193