Walter Henderson

Here is another "classic" post from club historian Don Eppler, originally written in May 2006. This post describes the person who gave his name to the Walter Henderson Trophy recognizing the Toastmaster of the Year.

As I keep looking over things that I have accumulated these past 45 years with the club, every once and awhile I come across something I think is worth sharing with our members.

Often during club meetings and Award Night Banquets we keep referring to certain people who were once members of our club and have passed on, the person I'm referring to this time is Walter Henderson.

He was such a great player in the communication development of our members; we introduced and named a trophy after him. But who was he really? Well by shear fluke, while thumbing through my 1965 monthly Toastmaster magazines, there in the pages I found the obituary write up on him and I'd like to share some of its contents with you, just to show what kind of man he was.

I don't know what year Walter joined our club, except to the fact he was a member before I joined the club and assuming by his age (He passed away at 71 on July 29th, 1965), he was with the club since its very early years. He wasn't a charter member, but was our club's President in 1960, meaning he was with club for about eight years.

Now keep this thought in mind, Walter only joined the club in his retirement years and most of our members back then were the middle management type of men who were all over 35 years old. Back then, I was considered a kid because when I joined the club I was only 26 years old. Lucky for me Walter took a shine to me and became my mentor. Let me tell you, he wouldn't let me get way with anything, especially my 'aahing' and use of my 'Northend English' Often he'd keep my after 'class' (after the meeting ended) and gave me pep talks on how I could improve if I wanted to. My wife Donna back then even remarked at time of my talking in my sleep and saying out loud "Yes, Major I'll try harder next time"

You'll understand after I recite some of his accomplishments in his from the obituary itself.

Walter Henderson was born in Deloraine, Manitoba, but completed his education in Winnipeg. He was the son of a newspaper editor and had to learn the business from the ground up, meaning the use of the 'correct English' was always in the forefront of his mind. He stayed the that business and became the Winnipeg Manager of the national advertising firm of MacLaren Advertising Company Ltd. He also played football with the Winnipeg Tigers (now known as The Winnipeg Blue Bombers) up to the time the First World War broke out.

He served as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps and shot down in France in 1918. During the Second World War he commanded a unit of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and retired as Major, meaning he was no nonsense type of individual and the club benefited immensely because of it.

When Walter returned to Canada, he served on the original Committee for our National Defence and our Search and Rescue Systems He was an Honorary Life Time member of the Wartime Pilots Association and Life Member of the Winnipeg Humane Society and an active member of the Y.M.C.A. Health Club and of course a President of Venio Dictum Toastmaster Club.

During my exposure to Walter and his presence in our club, there was never an excuse for being anything but trying our best. He had the patience of a saint and the Wisdom of Solomon, so no even dared to try to pull the wool over his eyes. He barked corrective actions as the Major he was and then expected quick and positive change, no 'ifs' 'buts' or 'whatevers' end of story. He used to remind us the sooner we start, the sooner it's fixed and we loved that kind of direction.

So it didn't take much consultation or thought by our members to honour Walter Henderson in a manner deserving him and that was with our club's Walter Henderson Trophy that annually recognizes the club's Toastmaster of the Year. Given a member who goes beyond the call of duty to insuring that Venio Dictum Toastmaster Club high standards of excellence are maintained to enhance each member's ability "TO BETTER LISTENING, THINKING AND SPEAKING"

Don Eppler, May 2006