Kenneth "Ken" Hayes Henson October 23, 1918 - June 13, 2000 by Binion Amerson

Hemerocallis 'Ken Henson' (W. B. MacMillan, 1975) (Photo by Ray Houston)

The American Hemerocallis Society, Region 6, and the Daylily Growers of Dallas lost one of it’s long-time members, Ken Henson, on June 13, 2000, at age 81.

Kenneth "Ken" Hayes Henson was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, October 23, 1918, the son of William Odell and Claudine (Hayes) Henson. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Virginia (Little) Henson; sons, Kenneth H. Henson, Jr. and Gordon Henson; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Outside our daylily world, Ken had been involved with designing the B-24 Bomber, based on his engineering degree from Indiana Tech University. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, a World War II Purple Heart recipient, a 32^nd Degree Mason, and a retired employee of Dresser Industries where he worked 37 years. Ken was an avid classic car collector, art collector, photographer, and along with Virginia, loved to travel throughout the World. He loved the outdoors, animals, and gardening, especially daylilies.

Ken served Daylily Growers of Dallas in many capacities, including President in 1977 and 1980. He attended most all meetings and was a frequent speaker. Ken collected daylilies on many of his trips to gardens in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. For many years, Ken and Virginia had an American Hemerocallis Society Display Garden where they grew recent and older daylilies as well as his own seedlings. Although an avid daylily hybridizer, he was very critical of his own seedlings. He did register two daylilies: one for his father, Hemerocallis 'Odell Henson' (1972) and one for Virginia’s father, H. 'Harry Little' (1975). Two daylilies were named in his honor: H. 'Ken Henson' (W. B. MacMillan, 1975) and H. 'Siloam Ken Henson' (Pauline Henry, 1989).

Ken attended many Regional Meetings and American Hemerocallis Society National Conventions, especially when Virginia was a Regional and National officer. He contributed heavily to daylily auctions and supported daylily functions all over the country. Ken was a Life Member of American Hemerocallis Society, a Garden Judge, and an Exhibition Judge.

We will all miss Ken Henson. We are grateful for having known this delightful gentleman and avid daylily enthusiast and supporter. American Hemerocallis Society, Region 6, and the Daylily Growers of Dallas are proud of Ken’s influence and accomplishments.

The following was written by Binion Amerson, who attended Ken's funeral.

Ken’s funeral was very nice and church services were well attended. Wilma Smith who grows many of Ken’s seedlings in her daylily garden, made a beautiful flower arrangement for the services. She used many of Ken’s seedling blooms. Just as the graveside portion was ending and taps played, the heavens put on a display of sounds in the form of thunder in the distance. Ken Jr. remarked to those attending that it was appropriate that "drum rolls" accompanied the taps. It was very touching.

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