Ken Henderson's passing

Ken Henderson - the Real Guru

It was very sad news to hear of the passing of Ken Henderson from this life on Sunday, January 27, 2008 in Meeker, OK. He was a true inspiration to all of the SQL Server community, and touched many of us in different ways. For me, I met Ken in 2001 when he did a presentation on extended stored procedures at the SQL Server group in Dallas. From that, he sparked my huge interest in these objects and I learned how to be a better c and c++ programmer because of him. Come to think of it, I'm a better TSQL programmer as well, and a better DBA too. I saw Ken from time-to-time at other meetings and events, and was always amazed that he made everyone feel important, their questions relevant. His lack of ego and his true desire to assist everyone made it seem that we all knew him very well.

On occasion I would email Ken and ask him questions; he never, ever failed to take the time to go out of his way to help a fellow SQL Server guy, like me. I remember when his Fish! chapter came out in the XML and HTML book. I laughed and laughed…and brought it to work to show everyone, at the time we were feeling the sting of Fish! ourselves! Actually, chapters like Fish! were some of his best; whether it was about the "Aging Champion" in the most recent book, or his views on how programming is cerebral, requiring "copious amounts of concentration", were lessons in life that were important, and not necessarily about any database topic.

I will remember Ken mostly by our chats via email, not about SQL Server, but about OU football. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and fellow Sooners never pass up an opportunity to talk about the greatness of our team. Ken never told me where he went to school, but his being from Pink, Oklahoma, a small town between Noble and Shawnee and near Norman, you guessed correctly: he was a die-hard fan of the Crimson and Cream. Interestingly, Ken mentioned that he never attended an OU game in person, but did attend several Sooner basketball games. I can just imagine the joy on his face going to work (Microsoft Las Colinas in Irving) after the "Second Saturday" in October these past 10 years or so, chiding all of those Longhorn fans!

Our community lost a great one, and a true inspiration to all that read his books and knew him. Those that were lucky to have been touched by him personally, even in an ever-so-slight way such as myself, and by his contributions to our industry, were fortunate and blessed.

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"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many mansions. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Amen

The Gospel of St. John
Chapter 14 Verse 2-7

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