Rondo Oral History Project: Interview with Melvin T. Henderson
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Mel Henderson grew up in the Rondo neighborhood. His father worked as Pullman porter and his grandparents had a farm in Hugo, Minnesota. It was a tightly knit community and the police beat officer looked after the neighborhood children. He became a star athlete at Central High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota on an athletic scholarship. He retired after serving as Dean at the Metropolitan State University. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Memories of growing up in the Rondo community; learning to be a strong athlete; influence of The Emeralds, a rock-and-roll singing group, after junior high school; significance of his church, St. James AME Methodist Church, and its music in his life.