UNVEILED AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY at the entrance to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) sports complex named for him was this bronze statue of Falls Church native Edwin Bancroft Henderson, called the “Grandfather of Black Basketball.” Shown here at the unveiling were Henderson family members including Henderson’s grandson, current Falls Church activist Dr. Ed Henderson (see story, Page 9). (News-Press Photo)
“In a normal world, this man could have been anything. He could have been president of the United States. He could have been a Fortune 500 CEO. But he got kicked out of the YMCA for being black. But like most black leaders, that didn’t stop him. He went on to do great things to help his people but also to plant the seeds for what became the modern national basketball association.”
So said President Ronald Mason of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) at the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue of Falls Church’s Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson last month.
Mason described Dr. Henderson, known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball,” as “an educator, scholar, author, athlete, coach, referee, organizer and civil rights activist.”
The ceremony saw the unveiling of the statue at the entrance to the Henderson Sports Complex on UDC’s Van Ness campus, named for the grandfather of Falls Church activist Edward Henderson III (see photo on page one of this edition).
The statue was created by Brian Hanlon, founder of the Hanlon Sculpture Studio in New Jersey, and recognized for his sculptures of notable African-American figures, including Harriet Tubman and Georgetown University basketball coach John R. Thompson.
The entire Northern Virginia region was shaken this week by the news from long-time U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly that his cancer has returned and he will not seek re-election to
Two major new developments have arisen so far for this coming period in Falls Church. The first is the announcement in Wednesday’s daily schools update that the proposed new Superintendent,
April 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on his longtime friend and colleague Congressman Gerry Connolly’s announcement that he would not seek
Monday, April 28 — Northern Virginia’s U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents the 11th District in Fairfax County, announced today that with the return of his cancer, he will not
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Edwin Henderson Statue Unveiled in D.C.
Nicholas F. Benton
“In a normal world, this man could have been anything. He could have been president of the United States. He could have been a Fortune 500 CEO. But he got kicked out of the YMCA for being black. But like most black leaders, that didn’t stop him. He went on to do great things to help his people but also to plant the seeds for what became the modern national basketball association.”
So said President Ronald Mason of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) at the unveiling of a life-sized bronze statue of Falls Church’s Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson last month.
Mason described Dr. Henderson, known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball,” as “an educator, scholar, author, athlete, coach, referee, organizer and civil rights activist.”
The ceremony saw the unveiling of the statue at the entrance to the Henderson Sports Complex on UDC’s Van Ness campus, named for the grandfather of Falls Church activist Edward Henderson III (see photo on page one of this edition).
The statue was created by Brian Hanlon, founder of the Hanlon Sculpture Studio in New Jersey, and recognized for his sculptures of notable African-American figures, including Harriet Tubman and Georgetown University basketball coach John R. Thompson.
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