Duncan (‘71) and Mitchell (‘76) Henderson Donor Story

Brothers Duncan S. Henderson ‘71 and Mitchell R. Henderson '76, both UCLA Oarsman, had purchased two shells over the years for the UCLA Crew program, each christened “Henderson Brothers.” Duncan also led the Jerry’s Jokers fundraising cohort group (named after their Coach Jerry Johnsen), who contributed grand amounts to the resurgence of the Men’s Crew Program.

 Duncan and his younger brother Mitch created an endowment in 2020 to support UCLA undergraduate students participating in UCLA Men's Crew. The endowed perpetual scholarship was something that had been in the planning stage for years. They designed and minted several generations’ worth of bronze, enameled challenge coins to be presented to these future student scholarship recipients with the challenge:
To become the greatest version of yourself.

 Recipients are to be junior or senior oarsmen (excluding coxswains) who have rowed at
 UCLA for at least two years (including the present year). Recipients should be oarsmen who in the previous season raced in the Varsity Eight Oared Boat at the WIRA Championship and placed in the top six finishers. This scholarship should not be awarded more than two times to the same individual. The awarded in the amount of approximately $2,000 per student. annually. The scholarship should be awarded during Winter quarter (ideally February or March) and preferably presented at the FOUR Alumni Banquet.

 At Duncan’s celebration of life (July 19, 1949 - June 21, 2022) members of the UCLA rowing community recalled:
“He always led from the front, by his actions and example, with panache, class, and elegance, he made it look so easy to us,” said teammate Jim Jorgensen. Coach Bob Newman reminded the group how the UCLA 8, with Duncan at stroke, crushed the perennial favorite Washington Varsity Crew for the 1970 West Coast Championship. “There was always a quiet confidence about Duncan,” said Bob. “When you looked into his eyes, you knew you would not lose. He instilled that confidence in the boat.”

Duncan’s UCLA rowing highlights included:
·      UCLA Student Athlete 1968-1971
·      2-Time Western Sprints Stroke to the UCLA Varsity (’69, ’70)
·      Varsity Team Captain 1971
·      Invited to the U.S. Olympic Team Selection Camp 1972
·      Long-time Board Member of Friends of UCLA Rowing (FOUR) and its Treasurer
·      Founder of the Henderson Brothers Centennial Scholarship

Strokewatch, Sep 2022