Professor selected for induction into Hall of Fame

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame for Division III has recently selected four inductees for this year's class.

Dr. Daniel Henderson

Included in that list is Dr. Daniel Henderson, assistant professor of exercise science at Centenary College.

"I'm mostly surprised at being inducted, since I did all of that running long before all of our current students were born," said Dr. Henderson. "I obviously feel honored to have those accomplishments recognized this many years later."

Dr. Henderson is a 1980 graduate of Wheaton College where he ran on the cross country team. During his four years there, his personal best 5-kilometer time was 13 minutes, 50 seconds.

After graduation, he worked as a janitor for a year, a job he loved, and then drove a truck for three years, another job he also loved. "During my truck driving days, I decided to pursue running because I was pretty good at it," he said.

From 1983-87, he ran under contract for Nike and was considered a world class runner, having posted one of the fastest times in the world for a given year. His personal best in the 5K time was 13:23.

During his running career, he also found time to finish his Master of Science degree from Indiana University, and decided that teaching and research would be a "cool" way to spend the rest of his working career. He went on to complete his Ph.D., also at Indiana University, and then on to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary School in Madison where he completed a 5-year postdoctoral position studying neural control of breathing using goats and turtles as animal models.

After a brief stop at Centre College in Danville, Ky., in the biology department, he came to Centenary in 2005 where he has been teaching exercise science and some biology.

All the inductees, including Dr. Henderson, will be honored later this year at the NCAA Division III track championships.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.