In last night’s city council meeting, council members gave an honorable farewell to Councilwoman Barbara Henson.
“We passed unanimously to name the Highland Park swimming pool after Ms. Barbara Henson,” said Ward 4 City Councilwoman Kim Houston.
At 83 years old, Henson is stepping down from her Ward 3 city council seat after 28 years of service.
“She has turned in her paperwork to retire. Tonight was her last city council meeting. We wanted to send her out with a bang. We think she is so pleased, and she was super surprised,” said Houston.
The swimming pool will now be called the Barbara Henson Aquatic Center.
“Most people in the community know that she’s known for her swim gem and taking an active interest in the children of Meridian. She worked diligently at highland park, which is in her ward, for years,” said Houston.
The honor is quite fitting given that Henson has a special connection to the park.
“I can’t remember a time from maybe age 12 to 13 that I wasn’t involved with something at the park,” said the retiring councilwoman.
She added that she also grew up swimming.
“I didn’t do anything much but swim. I still swim. I used to coach a swim team for years and years. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Then when I wasn’t coaching the swim team, I was just teaching everybody how to swim.”
A retirement party will be held for Henson tomorrow at 5 p.m. In the City Hall Auditorium.
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