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Struthers woman celebrates decades of service to community
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Vivian Henderson has operated the Struthers High School Band Boosters concession stand since the mid-1960s. She also serves as Band Boosters historian.
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
STRUTHERS
Even at 92 years old, and with decades of volunteer work behind her, Vivian Henderson can’t quit. Not yet.
No one would make the cotton candy.
“You have to be there every time,” Henderson said, referring to the post she’s occupied at Struthers High School home basketball games since the mid-1960s; proceeds from those concession-stand sales benefit the school’s Band Boosters program. “People think it’s complicated, but it’s so easy.”
Henderson should know.
Though her sight isn’t as good as it once was, she still organizes the concession stand’s workers, orders supplies, and makes and sells the cotton candy.
Because she no longer drives, she must find rides to wherever she goes, but the only time she missed working a basketball game was when a hospital stay prevented her from getting there.
She even persuaded the friend who drives her to games to stick around and operate the popcorn machine.
“I can’t be like most people,” said Henderson, matter-of-factly. “I have to be on the go.”
Henderson, who serves as Band Boosters historian, became part of the organization when her eldest daughter joined the band in 1960. She hasn’t had a child at Struthers High School since 1969, but stuck around regardless and has “been working ever since.”
She enjoys the “very homey” feel of the Band Boosters concession stand — which sells an assortment of treats such as hot dogs and candy, pretzels and pizza — and also the opportunity to meet so many people. The same customers often stop by the stand over and over, sometimes just to say “hello,” so she’s gotten to know them pretty well, she said.
“I just love it,” Henderson added. “The people in Struthers are terrific, and I haven’t found a bad one yet.”
A couple of things have changed from the time she first began volunteering with the Band Boosters to now.
She used to pop popcorn for the concession stand, for example, but when the Aut Mori Grotto Circus started coming to the Struthers Fieldhouse each year, she switched to cotton candy. The band itself used to be much bigger. And it was a lot easier to recruit volunteers for events back then.
“It’s hard to get volunteers now. Most of the mothers work [other jobs],” said Henderson, who explained that about 10 volunteers consistently help out with the basketball games. “Years ago, people called and asked, ‘Can I work tonight?’”
Henderson typically works at three basketball games each week, for about four hours each game. She’s also been involved with the band in a multitude of other ways, too, from acting as a chaperone during band camp and trips, to altering band uniforms, to serving in virtually every capacity in the Band Boosters organization.
In addition, Henderson — who grew up in East Palestine and moved to Struthers after marrying “a Struthers guy” — counts among her other commitments planning, cooking and serving lunch to members of the Struthers Rotary Club. Her church, the Struthers Parkside Church, has hosted the Rotarians’ weekly meetings since 1955, and Henderson has been there from the start.
She’s also president of the Struthers Parkside Church Women’s Association and vice president of the Struthers Community Chest, along with a member of the Struthers Historical Society. When her daughters were growing up, she was actively involved with the PTA and was a Girl Scout troop leader. She still bowls regularly.
“I don’t know any different,” said daughter Vicki DelliQuadri of Liberty. “That’s the way it’s always been. Isn’t it kind of amazing?”
Mary Donna Nelson, correspondence secretary for Band Boosters, thinks so. She’s known Henderson for more than 20 years, and is consistently amazed by her determination.
Though Henderson has had some setbacks in her life, they didn’t stand in her way of contributing to the causes she most believes in. After all, Henderson may be many things, including an outstanding teller of jokes, but she’s definitely not a quitter.
“It’s good to get involved and keep going no matter what,” Nelson said. “I’m glad I got to be friends with her.”
Karen Mettee, recording secretary for the Band Boosters, is grateful, too, describing Henderson as “very nice, very helpful and very generous.” She’s someone who “would do anything for anybody,” said Mettee, who added that she’s known Henderson since 1969, when her mother joined Band Boosters.
Mettee emphasized how important the concession-stand sales are to the Band Boosters — they’re the organization’s main fundraiser, she said, which helps purchase needed items such as uniforms, instruments and music — and how important Henderson’s contributions are as well.
She noted that Henderson’s efforts inspire other members to keep going.
“It motivates me. I’m still there doing it, even though my daughter graduated in 2006,” Mettee said. “I hope I live to be that age and still do what she does.”
Henderson’s other daughter, Candee Minchin, lives in Stow. She has eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.