HACKENSACK, N.J. – Edward "Mel" Henderson, who played football at Hampton University and was a pillar of the community in his native New Jersey, has had the basketball court named after him at his alma mater, Hackensack High School.
 
Henderson, who died in 2012 at age 74, was on the 1959 Pirates football squad that went 4-4-1. He is a member of the Hampton University Class of 1960.
 
He was a three-sport star at Hackensack, but that was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg on a life dedicated to both education and public service. After serving as assistant dean at Ramapo College, Henderson spent 13 years coaching basketball at Hackensack.
 
During that span, he won three Bergen County Jamboree titles. Henderson also coached current Hampton University Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall Jr., who considers Henderson to be his professional mentor.
 
In his introductory press conference on June 30, Marshall owed much of his professional success to Henderson, saying that Henderson "instilled in me at an early age … academic, athletics, and social excellence – which I did not know (at the time) was the Standard of Excellence and an education for life.
 
"(Henderson) demanded all his student-athletes, including me, prescribe to that and thrive."
 
Henderson also served as principal at Dwight Morrow High School, also in New Jersey. He resigned after three years, though, and entered the realm of public office – serving as councilman in nearby Teaneck, N.J.
 
Henderson served two eight-year terms, and he was also deputy mayor at one point.
 
Dave Patrella, the Director of Athletics at Hackensack High School, said this coming season will be the first with Henderson's name on the court. The idea came from a board meeting in 2013 where former players and administrators wanted to honor Henderson after his passing.
 
On Sept. 16, 2013, the dedication was made official and Henderson's family was presented with a copy of the plaque – with the original on display in the gym. Patrella also said this was the first time the court at Hackensack had been re-done in 17 years.