George Taylor Henry

George Taylor Henry

Cedar Rapids

On January 14th the Greatest Generation bid farewell to Renaissance Man George Taylor Henry on his 101st birthday. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, February 2, 2024, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at First Congregational Church, located at 361 17th St. SE Cedar Rapids.

Born Jan. 14, 1923, George was the son of Pearle Ann (Taylor) and Lawrence Earle Henry. George and his sister, Sally, grew up in Cedar Rapids and spent summers at a family cabin on West Lake Okoboji. He swam, sailed, ran, and became an Eagle Scout. He attended and graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids before beginning classes at Coe College. WWII interrupted his studies as he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1942, piloting B24 “Liberator” bombers out of Italy until the end of the war. Returning to Coe he graduated in 1949 and started his commercial photography business.

In 1956 George took a rafting trip in Utah and went from passenger to stand-in boatman to white water river guide for the next forty plus years. Many Cedar Rapidians joined him on the trip of a lifetime down the Green or Yampa Rivers in Dinosaur National Monument. After more than 350 multi-day trips and over 25,000 river miles, he laid claim to unique friendships with passengers Bobby and Ethel Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, John Glenn, Jim Whitaker, Andy Williams, Art Buchwald and others. His river exploits were documented by Cary J. Hahn in his Iowa traveler series in the 1990's and in his own book on his river running experiences, Row Away from the Rocks. Last year a set of his river negatives was accepted for inclusion in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, and once catalogued, will reside there into perpetuity as the George T. Henry Collection.

George married Ada Mae (Little) in 1957 and they enjoyed raising sons Jerry and Jeff. Mae died in 1989. George later married long-time friend Carolyn “Kay” (Reiner) Shive. Kay died in 2019.

Most who have affiliated with Coe College in the past 80 years will recognize George's nickname, “Mr. Coe College” and will know him best with a camera in hand as he served as Coe's photographer and unofficial historian for 68 years. His wife Kay joined him in establishing the George T. Henry Archives in October 1999 to house his thousands of negatives, artifacts, and publications. His book, Coe College: A Sesquicentennial Look Through 50 Years of George Henry Photography documents stories and pictures gleaned from well over 100,000 of his negatives. Coe presented George with the Doctor of Fine Arts Degree, and from the alumni committee, the Distinguished Service Award and the Award of Merit.

Beginning in the 1950's, most of Cedar Rapids' downtown businesses used his photos in their advertisements, and George's love for his hometown is documented in three books, The Images of America: Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Then and Now: Cedar Rapids; and Then and Now: Cedar Rapids Downtown and Beyond. His striking white goatee made him instantly recognizable as he took numerous school sports and class photos, weddings and family get togethers, dances, and public events. He was a fixture filming high school and Coe football and basketball games in the 60's through the early 80's, even running a business developing the film for about a decade when WMT TV discontinued that service. His photographs have won awards locally, statewide, and nationally, and his work is displayed in many local establishments.

A runner and a swimmer growing up, he remained athletically inclined into his 80's. He was often the oldest competitor in open YMCA swimming events joining his kids as they grew up and then helping start the Masters swimming program in Cedar Rapids. He was an excellent bowler and was well known for his skill in pie-eating contests.

George has been recognized for his volunteerism throughout the Cedar Rapids community. You may have seen him running the pancake breakfast grill for numerous pancake breakfasts or perhaps you were lucky enough to purchase and attend one of his “River Breakfasts” from a local charity. At the time of his death, he was recognized as the longest serving and oldest Optimist Club member in the US. He has gained entry into the Halls of Fame at the local YMCA and Washington High School Athletics based on his community service. He has been awarded community awards too numerous to document here. “Eighty Years through the Lens” is an hour-long biographical film documenting much of George's life.

As per George's wishes instead of flowers, donations can go to the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Minnesota, First Congregational Church, or the Covenant House in New York City.

Those who will continue to share his stories include Jerry (Jennifer) Henry; Jeff (Carolyn) Henry and their children Kalese (John) Sheldahl and Kestrel (Matthew) Hanselman; Polly (Armond) Pagliai and their children Tony (Mareike) and Jaclyn (Todd) Ewing; Philip (Cinde) Shive and their daughter Meredith (JD Moore); Mike Shive and sons Carson and Landon; and great-grandchildren Aliya, Eden, and Ezra Sheldahl; Judah, Calder, and Ezra Ewing; Dane Moore.

A friend once said, “George does not seek the limelight, although you'll find him there.”

George, your family and friends salute you on a long life well lived.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.