Lou and Mary Henson’s name to adorn Boys and Girls Club court

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A basketball court at the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces’ new facility will be named in honor of longtime supporters Lou and Mary Henson, the club announced in October.

Lou Henson, who passed in 2020 at age 88, was a renowned college basketball coach for the University of Illinois and New Mexico State University. On retirement, he boasted a career record of 779-413. He and his wife, Mary, were instrumental in organizing the annual fundraising breakfast event that is known today as the Lou and Mary Henson Community Breakfast.

The Henson family also provided $100,000 in matching funds for the $10 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the former Video 4 Theater at 1005 El Paseo Road as the Boys and Girls Club’s new home. The facility is planned as a 30,000-square-foot complex that will allow the club to triple the number of youth it serves, the nonprofit stated in a news release.

“The Lou and Mary Henson Giving Circle has been established to give donors the opportunity to invest in the project while honoring the Hensons’ legacy,” the release stated.

“The Club is a healthy, active, positive influence and a safe place for our young people to interact,” Mary Henson stated, adding, “I was humbled and honored that we would be remembered in such a special way.”

“Coach and Mary Henson are such beloved figures in our community, and their generosity has truly inspired us,” campaign committee chair Abel Coverrubias stated in the news release. “They have made a difference and truly empowered the Club by giving us a head start in helping us build a brighter future for our youth."

Boys and Girls Club, Lou and Mary Henson Giving Circle

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