Alexander D. Henderson Jr.

Alexander Dawson Henderson Jr. (February 16, 1895 – July 8, 1964), was a 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 known for being the namesake of the Alexander D. Henderson University School at Florida Atlantic University.[1]

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

(1895-02-16)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 forPhilanthropy
Mayor of Hillsboro Beach
VP and Director of Avon
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankLieutenant in the Cavalry

Early life
See also: Alexander D. Henderson (businessman)

Alexander D. Henderson was born on February 16, 1895, in Brooklyn, New York,[2] the son of Alexander. D. Henderson Sr. and Ella Margaret Brown. He was the grandson of Joseph Henderson (pilot) and brother to Girard B. Henderson. In 1909, the Henderson family moved to Suffern, New York. Henderson spent most of his early life in Suffern.

In June 1914, when Henderson was 19, his father took the family on a two-month 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.[3]

Marriage and children

On February 14, 1920, Henderson married Mary Barnes Billings Anthony in Ridgewood, New Jersey, daughter of Walter Dayton Anthony.[4] They had two children, Mary and Alexander.[5] In September 1935, they got divorced in Reno, Las Vegas.[6] On March 28, 1936, Henderson married Lucia Maria Ernst in New York City. They had a son named A. Douglas who was born in New York City.[7]

Military

From 1912 to 1915, Henderson attended the New York Military Academy, a boarding school at Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, south of Newburgh. At the New York Military Academy, Henderson was listed as Lieutenant of Company B.[8]

In 1916, Henderson attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and belonged to the ZETA Chapter of the PSI Upsilon Fraternity. By midyear, 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 at the Student Officer Training Camp in the Ramapo, New York precinct. Because of his military experience while at the New York Military Academy, he became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 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.[9]

Professional life

California Perfume Company
Alexander D. Henderson, Jr, in 1927.

Henderson started working for the California Perfume Company (CPC) in 1919 in the shipping department. By 1925, Henderson had become vice president and a Director of CPC in charge of purchases.[10]

On October 6, 1939, The California Perfume Company changed its name to Allied Products and then, in 1939, to Avon Products Inc.[11]

On April 12, 1940, it was reported that Henderson had resigned as vice-president of the Allied Products Company of Suffern, after 23 years of service. He would remain a director of the company. He was going to work with a boyhood friend, Sanford M. Treat[12]

Retirement

In 1946, Henderson and his family moved to Hillsboro Beach, Broward County, Florida.[13] Henderson and his brother continued to serve on Avon's Board of Directors.[14] From 1945 to 1960, A. D. Henderson was listed as Director in the company's Annual Reports.[15]

Politics

Henderson became vice mayor of Hillsboro Beach, Florida in 1955.[16] He became the Mayor of Hillsboro Beach in 1958 and held this position for six consecutive years (1958–1964).[17][18]

On June 1, 1965, after the death of Henderson, Police Chief Raymond McMullin presented a memorial to the former mayor's window, Lucy Henderson. She turned the plaque over to the town's present mayor. The memorial will be displayed in the Town Council Room.[19]

Philanthropy

In 1953, Henderson created the Hillsboro Country Day School in Pompano Beach, Florida.[20]

The A. D. Henderson Foundation was founded in 1959 by Henderson and his wife, Lucy E. Henderson with the vision to improving the lives of children in Broward County, Florida and the State of Vermont through early learning.[21]

Henderson was named building committee chairman and the founding donor of Saint Andrew's School, a private episcopal school in Boca Raton.[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]

Death

Henderson died on July 8, 1964, at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He was 69 years old.[24] He was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central in Fort Lauderdale. His wife, Lucia Ernst Henderson is buried in the same crypt.[25]

Legacy
Alexander D. Henderson University School

On December 1, 1968, the A.D. Henderson University School at the Florida Atlantic University College of Education was dedicated in his honor. The Alexander D. Henderson University School is a public elementary and middle school (K-8) and legislated school district operating as an educational laboratory on the FAU's Boca Raton campus.[26] The Chapel of Saint Andrew, located on the campus of Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton, Florida, was dedicated in memory of Alexander D. Henderson.[27]

References
  1. "Herstory: Early Hillsboro Beach resident was Avon executive with a big heart - New Pelican". New Pelican -. 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  2. "United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards". FamilySearch. 1942. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. The Story of Perfumery and the CPC, by William Scheele, California Perfume Company, New York, 1924
  4. "Pretty Anthony - Henderson Wedding Robs Ridgewood of Charming Daughter". www.newspapers.com. Suffern, New York. 1920-02-20. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  5. "Obituary". The Journal News. 1964-07-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  6. "Divorce". The Sunday News. 1935-09-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  7. "Obituary for LUCIA EDMONDSON HENDERSON". The Palm Beach Post. 1991-10-27. p. 40. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  8. Academy, New York Military (1914–1915). "Catalogue By New York Military Academy". books.google.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  9. "New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919". www.fold3.com. U.S.Government. Retrieved 2020-05-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "Introducing You To The CPC". California Perfume Company. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  11. The California Perfume Company Historical Timeline
  12. "Henderson Resigns As Vice President Of Allied Products". Ramapo Valley Independent. Suffern, New York. April 12, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  13. Tribute To A Friend. Bagpiper of Saint Andrew’s School An Episcopal School for Boys. August 1964.
  14. 1952 Avon Products Annual Report
  15. Avon Products, Inc., Annual Report, 1945-1960
  16. "Benson Mayor". Fort Lauderdale News. Florida. March 8, 1965. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  17. "Alexander D. Henderson, Avon Products Director". The New York Times. 1964-07-10. p. 29. Retrieved 2013-01-07.(subscription required)
  18. "Henderson Is Major 4th Time". Fort Lauderdale News. Hillsboro Beach. 1963-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  19. "A True Friend". Fort Lauderdale News. Florida. June 1, 1965. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  20. Ennis, Thomas W. (April 18, 1969). "News of Realty: Florida Acreage Bought". New York Times. p. 71.
  21. "The A. D. Henderson Foundation". hendersonfdn.org. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. Sun-Sentinel newspaper, July 10, 1964
  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. Forest Lawn Memorial office and crypt picture.
  26. "A.D. Henderson University School". Florida Atlantic University College of Education. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  27. "St. Andrew's To Dedicate Cahapel Today". The Miami Herald. April 9, 1967. p. 89.
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