some time at their college."
Jim said Henry liked the campus and the atmosphere at Loyola so
much, he decided to stay and play for the college.
"At that time, the colleges in [California] were very good
football schools, and they were very successful," Jim said.
Henry -- who also played basketball in college -- competed for
Coach Tom Lieb, who cut his football teeth with Knute Rockne, who was
a legend at Notre Dame.
From 1934-37, he starred as a fullback, wearing Nos. 9 and 36
during his career.
His best season came in 1936, when Loyola went 6-3, with their
only losses coming against St. Mary's (19-7), Santa Clara (13-6) and
University of San Francisco (17-14).
In 1935, the team went 6-5 and had wins against Arizona (13-6),
Texas Tech (16-0) and what is now Arizona State (7-3). Loyola barely
lost to UCLA, 14-6, and fell to Michigan State, 27-0.
With his college career finished, Henry graduated in 1938 with a
bachelor's degree in history.
"He didn't pursue his football career after college, because there
just wasn't that much opportunity for athletes back then," Jim said.
Henry continued to be active in sports most of his life, playing
fast-pitch softball for years in the Burbank Park, Recreation and
Community Services leagues and coaching in the Police Protective
League and other youth organizations.
He also enjoyed following Jim's athletic endeavors, as his son
became a successful athlete and coach himself.
"Along with my mother, my father was always there to support me
and help me when I was a player," Jim said.
"And when I became a coach, I don't think he missed any of my
games. He was always there."
Under his father's watchful eye, Jim became an All-American
quarterback at GCC in 1963, and competed at the University of
Washington in 1964 and 1966.
He returned to GCC in 1967 as an assistant coach and became head
coach in 1972, piloting the Vaqueros for 17 years until 1988,
compiling a 111-63 record. He led Glendale to seven bowl games and
eight conference tiles. He became men's athletic director in 1985.
Henry's legacy continued with granddaughter, Lisa, who was a
multi-sport standout at Burroughs High in the 1990s. Lisa played
women's volleyball and ran track at GCC before moving on to Westmont
College in Santa Barbara, where she still holds the school record in
the heptathlon.
"It's nice to continue that family tradition in sports that my
father started," said Jim, whose sons Nick and Steve are also fine
athletes.
"And we all know it all started with him."
