March 8, 2009

CHICAGO - Ken Henry, a charter member of the Northern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame and NIU's first Olympic gold medalist, passed away on Sunday, March 1 in Lake Bluff, Ill.

Henry, who played golf at Northern Illinois from 1949-52 and, following a stint in the United States Army, from 1954-55, was a two-year letterwinner for the Huskies. In 1951, he placed sixth at the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) meet while playing as NIU's number two man. In 1978, he was part of the nine-man charter class of the NIU Hall of Fame along with such notables as Chick Evans, Ralph McKinzie and Reino Nori.

While Henry starred on the golf course for NIU and later embarked on a successful career as a golf professional, he made his primary athletic mark on the speedskating oval. He participated in three Olympics as an athlete - in 1948 at St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1952 in Oslo, Norway and 1956 in Cortina, Italy - and another (1968 - Grenoble, France) as a coach. He won Olympic gold in the 500 meter race in 1952 in a near-Olympic record time of 43.2. He also claimed a bronze medal in that event in the 1948 games.

Henry won the 500 meter race at the 1949 and 1952 world meets. At the U.S. Olympic qualifying meet in 1951, he picked up victories in the 500, 1,500 and 5,000 and was named co-captain of the 1952 U.S. A. team. Prior to his years at NIU, he won a North American intermediate speedskating title in 1946 at age 17.

He was inducted into the National Speedskating Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame 2001. He had the honor of lighting the Olympic flame to open the 1960 Olympic games in Squaw Valley, Calif. and remained connected to the sport as an official and steward.

The Taft High School graduate earned a teaching degree from NIU and taught at several Chicago high schools before serving as assistant and head golf professional at golf clubs in the region.

He is survived by his wife, Roselle, sons Ken and Kirk, and four grandchildren.

-- NIU --