There is a school named John L. Hensey School, but the quiet spoken man behind the school might surprise you.

John Lester Hensey was born March 18, 1907 to Fred and Theresa (Sabine) Hensey.  On the family farm, he developed a lifelong passion for animals over the gritty field work.  He graduated from Taylorville High School and then the University of Illinois with a Master's degree in agricultural education.  He was hired by Maroa High School before his graduation to be their next ag teacher.

In 1938, Hensey married Annalou McGuire. They completed their family with two children: Frederic and Cynda.  

After two years at Maroa, Hensey moved to the position of ag teacher at Drummer High School in his wife's hometown of Gibson City.

In 1944, Hensey moved back to his hometown and alma mater to be the ag teacher at Taylorville High School. In 1947, he went to work for Morehouse & Wells in Decatur, Illinois.

John L. Hensey, teacher, gardener, breeder of Champion Wolfhounds, settled in with his true love and dubbed it Hensey Hobby Farm where not only Russian Wolfhounds were handraised, but Alpine goats.  The University of Illinois saw promise in this gentleman farmer and sent vegetable seeds so John could maintain a master's garden.  Sadly, that summer in 1947,  he had to put down his champion Borzoi Adama Bolshoi, who according to reports had sired more champions and winners than any other stud in the United States.  And another blow, just before Christmas in 1949, John's mother passed away; but a glimmer of the future took seed.

In 1950,  John Hensey was hired as principal of the Hopewell-Sundoer school district which is now District 50.  Under Hensey's tenure, the district saw tremendous expansion of Sunnyland due to the meteoric growth of Caterpillar Tractor Company. This required numerous building changes including significant additions to Sundoer School  as well as the construction and additions to Beverly Manor School.  As you might expect, students saw Hensey not just as a teacher or administrator, they viewed him as a nurturing part of their lives similar to the gardens he tended.  That little glimmer of hope after his mother died was to be realized upon his retirement.  He would build a little home on his father's farm in Christian County where he could hunt mushrooms in the spring.  

On June 17, 1955,  Hensey died at his home after a short illness at the young age of 48.  Below he is pictured with his staff at the 1955 eighth grade graduation less than three weeks before he passed.

In November 1958, the John L. Hensey School was dedicated with the community, his family, and friends in attendance.  His successes were numerous:  his efforts in solving the many problems that arose during the rapid expansion of Sunnyland, his contribution to the world of Borzois and fostering generations of appreciative students.