THOMAS HENVEY 

Tom Henvey was born and raised in Yonkers and attended Public School 14, Mark Twain Junior High School and Lincoln High School. Whether it was on the little league fields on Bronx River Road or at High School level, Tom was always one to make his community proud.

His legendary athletic prowess and interscholastic achievements contributed to his reputation as one of the finest all-around athlete ever to compete at Lincoln High School. He excelled as a three-sport athlete in football, baseball and basketball. He was a two time first team all-city selection as on offensive back and defensive safety. He was the only player to be selected to the all-county team for both football and baseball his senior year. Another milestone was being selected as the Westchester Con Edison Athlete of the week.  Tom was also honored as the tenth annual recipient of the Louis J. Flower Memorial Trophy, in which he received 445 points, which included eight first place votes out of a possible eleven and was the highest total in the award’s history. Tom was named the most outstanding athlete in the City of Yonkers during a time when Yonkers had several superb senior athletes.

The accolades were well earned. On the football field besides handling close to 85 percent of the offense, he did all of the kicking and astonishingly made half of his team’s tackles. Legendary Coach Frank Tierney rated Tom’s all- around athletic ability as the best of any athlete in the history of Lincoln while also praising his dynamic leadership. His ability on the baseball field had also captured the attention of the Chicago White Sox and they drafted him in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft. As he rose through the White Sox farm system, his childhood dream of playing in the Major leagues was in sight. Unfortunately, injuries on the field during his second season cut his p laying career short.

Tom returned home to incorporate his passion for sports with the pride he has always felt for his beloved city. Tom’s thirty-two years of distinguished service began as a physical education teacher. He thrived seeing the same passion he felt about athletics in the eyes of his students. In 1983 Tom was transferred from School 16 and appointed as Athletic Director at Yonkers High School. In 1996 he was named the District’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics.

During his illustrious administrative and supervisory career, Tom was deemed a quintessential administrator. He exhibited a proactive leadership style founded on vision, courage and character with a history of excellent decision-making. He was responsible for overseeing more than 20,000 students, more than a 1,300 interscholastic athletes, teachers and coaches.

Tom was instrumental in the development, implementation and administration of a Sports Magnet Program at the Mark Twain School that was only the third such program of its type in the country. He initiated and implemented an instructional junior Golf Program as part of physical education classes where students actually played at our local golf course. He served as a vital planning member to help build and administer the City’s Swimming Pool. Under Tom’s direction, Yonkers hosted the Section One Swimming and Diving Championships.

While Tom had always considered himself a behind the scenes player in his professional life, his dedication to the community had made him an MVP not only in Yonkers, but also in the lives of all he had touched. His goal was always to provide the same opportunities that athletics and hard work had given him, to others.

In 2004, Lincoln High School athletic department retired both his football and baseball numbers as a tribute to his legacy.

Tom and his wife moved down to Florida in December 2021.