'Mr. Valley Station': Former Louisville Councilman Bob Henderson dies

Bob Henderson, a longtime Louisville Metro Council member who many knew as "Mr. Valley Station," has died. He was 86.

He passed away in his home Saturday, according to his obituary .

Henderson represented the southwest portion of Jefferson County on the Metro Council as one of the original council members after the city-county merger. He represented District 14 as a Democrat until 2012.

While in office, Henderson championed cleaning up Dixie Highway, tearing down abandoned buildings and improving sewage and drainage in the district. He had a history of strongly supporting former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, according to a 2008 Courier Journal article. Henderson consistently fought against numerous challengers in the polls for the council seat.

"I think they threw away the mold when Bob Henderson was born," said Councilwoman Cindi Fowler at Thursday's Metro Council meeting. "I know that many of you all know what I'm talking about. He was a force to be reckoned with, but he was a gentle soul and he really cared for his community and fought hard for what was right."

Fowler was Henderson's legislative assistant, then won his seat after he retired.

"I babysat his kids when I was a teenager, and his daughter carried my train in my wedding," Fowler said.

The council shared a moment of silence in remembrance of the former member Thursday evening.

"Our Metro Council family grieves his passing and honors his decade of service to Louisville," said Council President Markus Winkler, also calling him a "well-known and well-respected individual in southwest Louisville."

Henderson was a U.S. Army and Marine Corps veteran, owned Henderson Contracting and was a supervisor at the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and CSX Transportation. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at EMcCrary@courier-journal.com or at @ellie_mccrary on X, formerly known as Twitter

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 'Mr. Valley Station': Former Louisville Councilman Bob Henderson dies