E.B. Henderson Accepted into National Basketball Hall of Fame

The Henderson name rings throughout Falls Church, Va.

It's on a school (Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School) and on a plaque in front of E.B. Henderson's former residence—and come Sept. 8, the Henderson name will be amongst those enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Henderson is amongst five direct-elect members of the Basketball Hall of Fame's class of 2013.

The eight-year battle to get E.B. Henderson recognized in the Hall of Fame has ended with the “Grandfather of Basketball” taking his place amongst those who have made contributions to the sport.

Edwin Henderson said there were days he thought his eight-year long campaign to get his grandfather in the hall would come up empty.

That changed after Feb. 15 when Edwin Henderson received a voicemail from someone he knows inside the Washington Wizards organization congratulating him on his grandfather's induction.

“At that point I became elated and called and emailed everyone I know,” said Henderson, a local historian and president of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation.

Inducted by the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Henderson will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame Sept. 8 along with former NBA stars and other new members. Messages left at the hall were not immediately returned but according to their website, Henderson “first learned basketball in 1904 at Harvard University, while attending a summer physical training class for gym teachers. Upon his return to Washington, D.C., he introduced the game of basketball to his black students.”

Henderson wasn’t sure if the committee had read his 138-page booklet he sent to all 28 board members eight years ago and he wasn’t sure if they had watched the seven-minute video that went along with the booklets. He carried hope that one day he would get the congratulatory phone call from the committee but as days went by, so did his hope.

“There were times we thought it would never happen,” he said. “We’ve been celebrating informally ever since.”

According to the Hall of Fame’s website, Henderson formed the first African American athletic conference—the Interscholastic Athletic Association—and through the I.S.A.A, he was able to organize competitions between intercity African American youth along the Mid-Atlantic coast specifically in New York and Washington, D.C. Henderson also co-edited the Spalding Official Handbook for the I.S.A.A., which was published from 1910 to 1913.

In 1909, according to the website, Henderson lead the Twelfth Street Colored Y.M.C.A to the 1909-10 Black National Title and the team finished undefeated and the following year, he coached the 12th Streeter squad to another undefeated season and won the 1910-11 Colored Basketball World’s Championship title, according to the site.

The younger Henderson said he is very proud of his grandfather’s accomplishments and contributions to history.

A letter received from the hall in 1974 asking for a copy of Henderson’s “The Negro in Sports,” in order to tell the early story of blacks in basketball fueled a campaign that stretched years.

“That was proof they knew of his contributions,” he said. “That’s why in 2005 we put forth the nominations to have him inducted.”