Family Support Center renamed
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on November 2, 2004 1:57 PM
A man who devoted 40 years of service to the personnel and families of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was honored and remembered Monday by his family, base officials and local officials.
The Family Support Center at Seymour Johnson was dedicated in the memory of retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert "Bobby" W. Henson. He was director of the center for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. He passed away Dec. 29.
"It is our honor and pleasure to dedicate the Family Support Center to one of our own," said Marilyn Roseborough, who took over for Henson as director.
"It means a lot to the staff of the center and to the 4th Fighter Wing."
She said the dedication has been in the planning stages since January.
Henson served in the U.S. Army in 1964 and 1965 and later joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served for 37 years. He received over 170 recognition awards and 16 Air Force medals.
He was a board member for United Way of Wayne County. He was a member of the board of directors of a local bank and chairman of the Seymour Johnson Federal Credit Union.
"I'm just so proud and so honored to have this day for him," said Henson's wife, Elaine. She and their children attended the ceremony along with other family members.
She said he was always pulling for the underdog and had a great sense of humor. When he had something on his mind, he stayed with it to the end.
Col. Mike Holmes, 4th Fighter Wing commander, said Henson will be known forever at Seymour Johnson now that it is the Chief Master Sgt. (Retired) Robert "Bobby" W. Henson Family Support Center.
Holmes said the center's operations may be moved by the end of the decade into another building with other base operations, but Henson's name will always be there with the center.
A portion of the plaque, which is near the front door of the center, reads: "He nurtured every soul he came into contact with, whether it was a few moments or over the course of several decades."