Hall of Fame
Tom Henn was one of Ship’s best offensive linemen in school history. After serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, Henn enrolled at Shippensburg in the fall of 1973.
Henn started on the varsity in 1974 and helped Shippensburg enjoy a 7-4 record - the first winning season in six years for the Raiders. Henn was named first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and was on the Associated Press’ third team All-Pennsylvania. The All-Pennsylvania team included players from Penn State and Pitt. Although only 5-10, 190 pounds, he was one of the hardest hitting blockers in the conference.
In 1975, Henn was named second team All-Conference. Shippensburg was nationally ranked early in the season and finished 6-5.
Shippensburg won the conference championship in 1976. Prior to the season, Henn and fellow co-captain Tony Winter helped keep the team organized and in training during a change of head coaches in early spring. The team finished the year with an 8-2-1 record, and Henn was first team All-Conference again. For three straight seasons he consistently graded out higher than any other Raider offensive lineman.
After graduation, Henn was a counselor and wilderness instructor with adjudicated youth from the state of Pennsylvania at the Appalachian School of Experience in Carlisle from 1979 to 1982 and at Tressler Wilderness Program, Camp Hill, during the summers of 1983 through 1985. These programs, an alternative to incarceration for teenagers aged 13-18, entailed a 26-day wilderness course which taught self-reliance, socialization skills, and self-esteem. Students learned an array of skills such as rock climbing, backpacking, white water canoeing, and communication skills. Instructors did follow up visits to the youths’ placements in order to assist in matters of education, employment, and family.
Henn than became a teacher in the Chambersburg school district and is a Trojan assistant football coach.
