Gregory Gene Henry

A Friend of the Phonograph

 

In Memory of Greg Henry, August 26, 2024

By Doug Boilesen, September 15, 2024 (with excerpts from Greg's obituary, the Lincoln Journal Star, September 15, 2024).


Greg Henry was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on September 4, 1950 to Ruth Eileen Henry (née Lane) and Herbert Gene Henry.

The first of four siblings, Greg's early years were marked by a deep commitment to his community. He earned his Eagle Scout badge, was actively involved in the Youth Fellowship at St. Paul United Methodist Church and sang tenor in the prestigious Lincoln Boys Choir.

Greg was my childhood friend from the time of my second birthday party in 1952 until 2024. We both attended Southeast High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned a B.S. with distinction in Mathematics and Physics and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Triangle Fraternity. Greg then went to the University of Chicago to earn a PhD in Physics. He went from there to work at Fermilab, America's renowned particle physics laboratory. Greg's next and final move in 1979 took him to Arlington, Viriginia to be an Operations Research Analyst at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C. until his retirement in 2011.

Greg enjoyed all types of music. He played trombone with marching bands at Southeast and Lincoln East high schools. He created a light show during his college days with our friend Larry Stepp and they toured Nebraska and regionally as part of the Who's rock opera Tommy. He took organ lessons as one of his later life hobbies.

Distance kept him from attending "Phonograph Birthday" parties but he did contribute to Friends of the Phonograph lists such as "Favorite Record Album Cover," "Top 10 Movies," and "PhonoMovies." For the Favorite Movies list, a.k.a. "Top Ten Movies," Greg limited himself to 25; he said he couldn't rank them so his movie selections are listed as "UR" (Unranked); He also submitted movies titles to go into the "Phonographs in the Movies" gallery.

Greg never documented an early phonograph connected memory for FOTP's "Memories of the Phonograph" gallery, but he grew up with a phonograph in the home and a record player in his room. I remember Greg playing an LP of The Band's first album which at the time, circa 1970, he said he really liked.

A recent phone call was a reminder that Greg considered his home entertainment system important for music and he mentioned that he had been thinking about getting new speakers. But since he determined that one of his current speakers only needed a new driver he said he was going to have that driver replaced. The explanation for repairing and not upgrading to new speakers then morphed into a science seminar related to recorded sound, the bit rate of digital recordings and the specifications of his own system. Greg's conclusion: Fixing his speakers would still meet the specs that he needed to enjoy digital recordings -- QED. It was a typical phone conversation with Greg which often included fact-checking and back of the napkin calculations.

Physics and thinking about current affairs, the environment, political matters, pro-democracy causes, books, periodicals and writing are where Greg spent most of his time. He watched and recorded many programs and news broadcasts which always included the local news. In his retirement Greg had hoped to develop and promote some forums where ordinary citizens would be invited to come and discuss various topics, hear experts, ask questions, review and even recommend policy proposals. Greg's vision for those public forums unfortunately never materialized.

I wish Greg was still here to write his own Memory of the Phonograph page. Instead, his entry into the "In Memory of Friends of the Phonograph" means that he's no longer available to take my call.

I will remember Greg for many things, but especially for being a life-long friend, a man of integrity and a thinker.

The following photos include a few shared moments and memories.

 

 

Greg on the far left for my second birthday party with me between the two girls (Marsha on my left, Bonnie to my right) on the front steps of our apartment at 1301 "H" Street, Lincoln, NE , May 1952.

 

Mothers with their children (Greg with Ruth Henry on far left) May 1952.

Greg and I first spent time together on Sunday mornings in St. Paul Methodist's nursery when we were infants and pre-schoolers. That relationship would continue through Sunday School and Methodist Youth Fellowship. In that context two other friends, Mary McKelvey Fagler and Lyle Hiatt, were also part of Greg's growing up years.

 

Halloween Party at 1301 "H" Street, (Greg front row far right. Doug is in back row far left, Mary Francis BR third from left. and Lyle is FR 2nd from left, 1953).

 

Larry Stepp on far left (during college, he was Greg's light show collaborator), Greg 2nd from left, Doug 2nd from right at Doug's Birthday, 1961.

 

"The Band" (The Brown Album) 1969 - it's an album I can picture Greg playing.

 

Santanya's "Abraxis", Greg's favorite album cover.

 

Lincoln East High School Graduation Picture, Class of 1968

 

College Graduation Celebration party with Greg, Mary, Lyle and Doug, 1972 - See Halloween party 1953 for this same four-some.

 

Doug and Sharon visited Washington, D.C. and Greg in Arlington, VA in 1989.

On my first visit to Greg's in the early 1980's after he moved to Arlington I asked him where he kept his toaster since I didn't see one in the kitchen. Greg responded that he didn't have a toaster. As a "toast" person I was a bit surprised and offered to buy one. He declined by saying he didn't want one and would never get one. This would become a running joke on our phone calls as I'd ask if had found a place yet for a toaster. "No," or a somewhat exasperated "what is it with you and toast?" were typical responses. On another visit some years later Greg served Cinnabons for breakfast which were delicious. After eating a Cinnabon my "where do you keep your toaster" question logically could have stopped since Cinnabons were a nice alternative to my daily toast. But my ribbing continued over the next thirty-five years, and I'll miss not asking Greg where he keeps his toaster.

 

Doug and Sharon's visit to Greg's new Arlington home in 2000 with custom bookcases throughout his living room for his many books.

 

Greg in 2017 (sixty-five years later) on the steps of 1301 "H" Street, Lincoln, NE which became Billy's Restaurant & Bar in 1986. My parents, Axel and Betty Boilesen, and I lived in one of two apartments on the first floor until 1955. 1301 "H" Street is historically known as the Noble-Dawes home. Built as a duplex in 1885 for Henry E. Noble, the house was sold in 1891 to Charles G. Dawes and his wife. Dawes was the 30th vice president of the United States from 1925 to 1929 under Calvin Coolidge. Parenthetically, Greg and I talked a lot about politics.

 

Greg, as pictured in his obituary notice, August 26, 2024, or "Gregory" as I'd greet him after he answered the phone, which was then followed by Greg recognizing me with a ritualistic pause and a distinct "Douglas."

Our calls were never short and sometimes ended abruptly because it was time for the news (Eastern Time, Greg's rule). But long or short, the calls often ended with a "That is all!" -- which is now too true.

That is all!

 

AVE ATQUE VALE