2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 82
BY SENATORS ERDEY, LAMBERT AND WHITE AND REPRESENTATIVES
HODGES, MACK, POPE AND SCHEXNAYDER
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Marvin Ansel Henderson, a longtime resident of Livingston, Louisiana, and
a widely respected auctioneer.
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson was born to Gladys and Joseph Lawrence Henderson
in Frost, Louisiana, on December 16, 1936, and died at his home in Livingston, Louisiana,
on February 20, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson graduated from Baton Rouge High School and, after
marrying his sweetheart, Audrey McMorris, he traveled to attend the Reppert School of
Auctioneering in Indianapolis, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, the Reppert School of Auctioneering was established in 1921, and is the
oldest continuously operated auctionering school in the country and it enjoys renown as the
best in the nation; and
WHEREAS, after his training at Reppert, Marvin Henderson returned to Louisiana
and he and Audrey settled in Livingston where, in 1957, he founded Henderson Auctions,
a very successful business and an asset to the Livingston community for over sixty years;
and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson and Audrey raised their children, daughters Janet
and Julie, son Jeffery, and foster son, Joseph in a close-knit, religious, and loving family; and
WHEREAS, as an auctioneer, Mr. Henderson joined the National Auctioneers
Association in 1957 and was an active member for sixty-two years; and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson was inducted into the National Auctioneers
Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and served for nine years on the National Auctioneers
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 82 ENROLLED
Association Foundation board of trustees; and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson was a Louisiana Auctioneers Hall of Fame inductee
and on the Louisiana Association's website Henderson Auctions was the "featured member"
for March, 2019; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career, Mr. Henderson helped countless young
auctioneers begin their careers, dispensing important advice and information, including some
who would become his competitors; and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson served his country proudly as a member of the
United States Army Reserve and, in 1966, he was elected to the Livingston Parish School
Board, serving ably until 1975; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson was a charter member of the Oakview Baptist Church
and he and Audrey were active in the church and strove to live their lives as a walk in
Christian faith; and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson was an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, helping
to raise more than a million dollars for local charities and nonprofit groups and hundreds of
thousands for St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which offers free care
to all children suffering from cancer; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henderson was active in the community socially and politically and
he and Audrey particularly loved to host political parties and enjoyed the pleasure of
countless friends; and
WHEREAS, Marvin Henderson's special place to relax, when not auctioneering,
entertaining, or spending time with his family, was his sawmill where he worked with
beautiful cypress logs and old lumber; and
WHEREAS, fittingly, Marvin Henderson's visitation and funeral were held in the
auctions pavilion that he built; and
WHEREAS, as a man devoted to his family, his church, the business that he founded,
and his community, Marvin Henderson was a distinguished member of his community; one
committed to leaving the world and Livingston, Louisiana, a better place than when he found
it and his legacy is one of being committed to all endeavors in life, to faith in his church, and
to love of family.
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 82 ENROLLED
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express the sincere condolences upon the death of Marvin Ansel Henderson, a
longtime resident of Livingston, Louisiana, and a widely respected Auctioneer.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
children through Henderson Auctions in Livingston, Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3