Wikipedia

Alexander D. Henderson Jr.

Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr. (February 16, 1895)[1] was an American business leader, financier and philanthropist, and long-time mayor of Hillsboro Beach, Florida. He was Vice President and Director of the California Perfume Company (CPC), which later became Avon Products. Henderson is also known for his philanthropy; he created the Hillsboro Country Day School, and is the namesake of the Alexander D. Henderson University School at Florida Atlantic University.[2]

Alexander D. Henderson Jr.
A. D. Henderson
Alexander D. Henderson Jr., ca. 1960
Personal details
Born
Alexander Dawson Henderson

February 16, 1895
Brooklyn, New York
DiedJuly 8, 1964(1964-07-08) (aged 69)
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Mary Barnes Anthony
Lucia Maria Ernst
Children3
EducationDartmouth College
ProfessionBusinessman
Known forMayor of Hillsboro Beach
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankLieutenant in the Cavalry

Early life

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Alexander D. Henderson was born on February 16, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York.[1]

Alexander D. Henderson was the son of A. D. Henderson of Suffern.[3]

In June 1914, when Henderson was 19, his father took the family on a vacation-business trip to Europe. They saw fields of flowers and bought necessary oils from the French. The family also visited the oil factories that made the perfume for the California Perfume Company.[4]

Military high school

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From 1912 to 1915, Henderson attended the New York Military Academy, a boarding school at Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, south of Newburgh.[5] By midyear in 1916, he decided to leave Dartmouth and volunteer for the U. S. Army during World War I. On August 15, 1917, he was called into active service and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the High School Cavalry, stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was also stationed at Company D, Hughes High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant on April 8, 1918.[6]

Career

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Henderson in 1927

He was the son of Alexander D. Henderson and worked his way up from the bottom of the company beginning in 1916 to become vice president of Avon, and is known as a philanthropist.[7] Alexander D. Henderson, Jr. was a founder and principal benefactor of the Alexander Henderson Private School, a/k/a Alexander D Henderson University School Home & School Association, which is on the campus of the Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. “A.D. Henderson is a public school governed by Florida Atlantic University and has no tuition cost.”[8][9][10]

On April 12, 1940, Henderson resigned as vice-president of the Allied Products Company of Suffern, after 23 years of service. He remained a director of the company.[11] In 1946, Henderson and his family moved to Hillsboro Beach, Broward County, Florida.[12] Henderson and his brother continued to serve on Avon's Board of Directors.[13][better source needed]

Henderson became vice mayor of Hillsboro Beach, Florida in 1955.[14] He became the Mayor of Hillsboro Beach in 1958 and held this position for six consecutive years.[15][16][17]

Personal life

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On February 14, 1920, Henderson married Mary Barnes Billings Anthony in Ridgewood, New Jersey.[18] They had two children, Mary and Alexander.[19] In September 1935, they divorced in Reno, Las Vegas, with Mary charging him with cruelty.[20] On March 28, 1936, Henderson married Lucia Maria Ernst in New York City. They had a son who was born in New York City.[21]

Death and legacy

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In 1953, Henderson created the Hillsboro Country Day School in Pompano Beach, Florida.[22] In 1960, a donation from Henderson and his wife Lucy contributed to the construction of the Henderson Behavioral Health facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The clinic was renamed Henderson Clinic of Broward County in 1961.[23]

Henderson died on July 8, 1964.[24] On December 1, 1968, the A.D. Henderson University School at the Florida Atlantic University College of Education was dedicated in his honor.[25] The Chapel of Saint Andrew, located on the campus of Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Florida, was dedicated in memory of Henderson.[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Record of service forms (discharge card), Form No. 84c-1, A.G.O" (Discharge Card). United States Army. March 17, 1921. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ "Herstory: Early Hillsboro Beach resident was Avon executive with a big heart - New Pelican". New Pelican -. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  3. ^ "Pretty Anthony - Henderson Wedding Robs Ridgewood of Charming Daughter". Ridgewood Herald-News. Ridgewood, New Jersey. February 20, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  4. ^ The Story of Perfumery and the CPC, by William Scheele, California Perfume Company, New York, 1924
  5. ^ Academy, New York Military (1914–1915). "Catalogue By New York Military Academy". books.google.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  6. ^ "New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919". www.fold3.com. U.S. Government. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  7. ^ Manko, Katina (June 4, 2021). Ding Dong! Avon Calling! The Women and Men of Avon Products. Oxford University Press. p. 258. ISBN 9780190499822.
  8. ^ Alexander D Henderson University School, About Us
  9. ^ National Directory of Nonprofit Organizations, Associations USA 2004: A Directory of Contact Information for National Associations, Foundations, and Other Nonprofit Organizations in the United States and Canada. Vol. 2. Omnigraphics Inc. 2002. p. 1350. ISBN 0780807324.
  10. ^ Bunting, J.E. (1971). Private Independent Schools. Vol. 24. p. 153.
  11. ^ "Henderson Resigns As Vice President Of Allied Products". Ramapo Valley Independent. Suffern, New York. April 12, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  12. ^ Tribute To A Friend. Bagpiper of Saint Andrew’s School An Episcopal School for Boys. August 1964.
  13. ^ 1952 Avon Products Annual Report
  14. ^ "Benson Mayor". Fort Lauderdale News. Florida. March 8, 1965. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  15. ^ "Alexander D. Henderson, Avon Products Director". The New York Times. 1964-07-10. p. 29. Retrieved 2013-01-07.(subscription required)
  16. ^ "Henderson Is Major 4th Time". Fort Lauderdale News. Hillsboro Beach. 1963-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  17. ^ "A True Friend". Fort Lauderdale News. Florida. June 1, 1965. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  18. ^ "Pretty Anthony - Henderson Wedding Robs Ridgewood of Charming Daughter". www.newspapers.com. Suffern, New York. 1920-02-20. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  19. ^ "Obituary". The Journal News. 1964-07-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  20. ^ "Divorce". The Sunday News. Ridgewood, New Jersey. 1935-09-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  21. ^ "Obituary for LUCIA EDMONDSON HENDERSON". The Palm Beach Post. 1991-10-27. p. 40. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  22. ^ Ennis, Thomas W. (April 18, 1969). "News of Realty: Florida Acreage Bought". New York Times. p. 71.
  23. ^ "Mental Clinic Gets A Home".
  24. ^ "Alexander D. Henderson, Avon Products Director". The New York Times. July 10, 1964. Retrieved 22 Jan 2013.
  25. ^ "A.D. Henderson University School". Florida Atlantic University College of Education. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  26. ^ "St. Andrew's To Dedicate Chapel Today". The Miami Herald. April 9, 1967. p. 89.
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