Len Henderson was the first African American president of the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

A member of SEANC District 60 in the Goldsboro area, Henderson spent a 20-year career at O’Berry Neuro Medical Treatment Center and Cherry Hospital. He was elected president of SEANC in 1995 after terms as both Second Vice President and First Vice President.

Henderson recalls that the historical nature of his run for president was not lost on him. “It was a main motivator for me to run. There were a lot of African Americans in the organization, but none of us had reached the top. It inspired me.”

He credited current SEANC President Martha Fowler and past presidents Shirley Bell and Paula Schubert among the many members who helped him reach the presidency.

During his term as president, Henderson pushed SEANC to grow its grassroots advocacy and legislative efforts. He also led EMPAC from its infancy to one of the top PACs in the state and oversaw and expansion of SEANC’s physical property.

Today, he said, the leadership of SEANC is much more diverse than it was in those days. All four of SEANC’s statewide officers – Fowler, First Vice President Kirk Montgomery, Second Vice President Wendell Powell, and General Treasurer Emily Jones – are African-American.

“SEANC was ready for the first black president at that time,” he said. “Things have drastically improved. Back then there weren’t even that many black district leaders.”

Today, Henderson continues to be involved in his community in Goldsboro. He is currently serving his ninth year on the Wayne County Board of Education.

“I have a real passion for education, and we have a lot of needs here in Wayne County,” he said.

He and his wife of 42 years, Renee, have two daughters, 6 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

SEANC salutes this pioneer and all his achievements.