Year Inducted: 2017
Nominated By: Ruth Shelton
Sports Competed In: Softball, Tennis
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete
High School:
Attended Penrose H.S., gradiuating in 1963...Paula was a shortstop on the softball team.
Softball Achievements:
Henson is regarded as one of the top female softball (fast and slowpitch) players in Pueblo history, having won numerous titles and awards playing in Pueblo League (Sidewinders, Morrison League) M.V.P; All-Tourney, All-League and maintained .400 batting average...Since her early youth, Paula has been an outstanding athlete, playing in the Canon City League Divisions 12U, 14U, 16U...Henson played in slow pitch Regional and State Tourney's in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and Denver...She also played on a squad that qualified for CO-ED Nationals in Modesto California.
Tennis Achievements:
She started playing tennis at age 34, again, excelling in winning numerous tournaments and awards. Some highlights were:
● Mother-Daughter Family Equitable Tournament in New York at U.S. Open.
● Doubles- Mother & Daughter- Paper Cup 1988. Won Paper Cup at this level in 1989.
● National Qualifier Women's level 4-5.
● Served on Pueblo Tennis Club Board 1982-1998.
● Headed Junior Committee and Colorado Tennis Association Committee 1992-1998.
● Qualifier 50 & Over Sectional Tournament 4-5 women in Boise, Idaho (1999).
● Ranked 4th, 35 & Over Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1992).
● Ranked 2nd, Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1994).
●Ranked 2nd, 35 & Over Mixed Doubles in 5.0 (1995).
She still plays USTA as a "senior" (50+) and has won several State and Sectional tournaments.
Contributions:
She was 26 years old when Paula started officiating volleyball as a Charter Member of the Colorado Volleyball Officials Association (CVOA) in 1975. In 2005, she became one of only 14 in the State to achieve the status of having officiated Volleyball for 30 years. She worked girls middle and high school Volleyball in Pueblo, Canon City, Florence, Hoehne, Cotopaxi, and Walsenburg. She excelled workinng at High School District and Regional playoffs each of those years and had been selected ten times to work the State Tournament.
Paula has served two different terms as Area 4 Director (for a total of eight years). Her responsibilities included assigning officials, contacting area schools and, of course, conducting the weekly meetings. She also helped organize many Area Clinics (in the early years, each Area had its own clinic) and assisted with clinics.
Related Activities:
Henson competes in six leagues of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Personal:
Paula has lived most of her life in Pueblo and is married to Steve Henson, managing editor of The Pueblo Chieftain... The couple have three children, Tia, Chandra and Casey.
