Henegar volunteered so children could play ball
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“We spent our lives at the ballpark,” said his wife, Wilma Henegar, who worked side by side with her husband during their years of service.
Henegar was a volunteer in youth leagues for over 30 years and served as president of the youth T-ball, baseball and softball leagues for over 20 years. His efforts were marked by naming the entrances into the Civic Center baseball complex as Henegar Way.
“We couldn’t just name a field in his name because he was so involved in building many of the fields there,” said McMinnville Parks and Recreation Director Carlene Brown. “We thought naming the drives into the complexes was the best because he was involved in all of it for so long.”
Brown said Henegar’s passing is another “devastating” blow to local athletics, in a year which has been a tough one.
“We’ve lost Bill Gilley, Ben Banerjee and Leslie all in the same year,” Brown said. “The community has lost three tremendous community servants.”
Brown said Henegar was already heavily active in local athletics when she arrived here nearly 20 years ago.
“If the lights were on, you could bet he was there,” Brown said. “He was always doing something for the kids and he held his ground to make sure the price in the leagues stayed low, the lowest in the state, so every child could get to play.”
Brown recalled Henegar using his own money to buy ball gloves and uniforms for children whose families could not afford them. She also pointed out his efforts were instrumental in the continued development of the ball complex near the Civic Center.
“He was instrumental in getting the fields built, especially the T-ball field and the multi-purpose field,” Brown said. “He was always planning and thinking ahead for the youth.”
Mrs. Henegar said her husband continued serving, coaching and assisting in the development of the ball complex and leagues until his illness prevented him from doing so.
“He worked right up until he was unable to anymore,” Mrs. Henegar said.