Tommy Henry

Sport: Director

Induction Year: 2008

University: Northwestern State

Induction Year: 2008

Retired in 2007 after his 24th year as commissioner of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Tommy Henry emerged as one of the most progressive high school athletic commissioners in the nation.

During his tenure the LHSAA became  a self-efficient legislative organization. Henry was named the LHSAA’s third commissioner in 1983 after having served as an assistant commissioner since 1976.

Under his leadership, the LHSAA’ financial reserves grew from $40,000 to $1.5 million with corporate sponsorship endeavors helping set the pace.

He founded the Superdome Classic football championships in his first year as commissioner and steered state championship events to many outstanding venues around the state.

Prior to his tenure, many of the state championship competitions were held at high schools.  Henry secured a major television contract for championship events.

Among other administrative highlights, Henry upgraded the football and basketball officials programs establishing scouting and critiquing of officials; established a wild-card program in football, girls and boys basketball, and in baseball and softball; established hardship eligibility and appeals programs; and re-wrote the LHSAA handbook in 1991-92, the first major revision in the then 72-year history of the organization.

He established a Scholar-Athlete program featuring all-state academic teams for several sports. He added boys and girls soccer as a state championship sports, along with track and field events for physically challenged athletes (wheelchair events).

A native of Alexandria and a graduate of Bolton High School and Northwestern State, Henry was a teacher and coach at Bossier High from 1963-75, guiding one of the state’s top prep baseball programs.