Steve Henderson, Lacey Firefighter Who Won National Award, Dies At 50

OLYMPIA - Lacey Fire Lt. Steve Henderson, recognized as the National Firefighter of the Year in 1986 for pioneering the idea of giving teddy bears to traumatized children, has died. He was 50.

Mr. Henderson, a Lacey firefighter for 20 years, died Oct. 9. The cause of death had not been determined, but he had suffered from colitis in recent years.

His program to give children teddy bears - called "Hendy bears" in Lacey - was adopted worldwide by fire departments and other emergency services, his co-workers said.

Then-Gov. Booth Gardner declared April 10, 1987, as Steve Henderson Day in Washington. And Lacey Mayor Kay Boyd declared June 25 of that year Steve Henderson Day. The local news media honored him as one of 80 people who made a difference in the community in the 1980s.

Mr. Henderson also began a practice of sending sympathy cards to families his crew had helped.

"He seemed to always be concerend about the people we were serving, and asked, `How can we take care of them?' " said Fire District Chief Jim Broman.

Mr. Henderson is survived by his wife, Lynne, and four daughters.