Kenton Howell Hendricks came to us from Garland, TX and left us in Victorville, CA. In between, he left a lasting mark upon all who met him, exuding the essence of brotherhood and good old Texas spirit. He was a force of life. It is difficult to believe his “clock has gone still,” quoting his mother’s, Gloria Jean, words in a poem. Kenton was born December 9, 1951 in Dallas and passed away on March 12, 2019. Kenton is survived by his wife, Inja Hendricks; older sister Sherrill Hendricks of Alexandria, VA; younger brother Carter Hendricks of Austin, TX; and younger sister Lisa Hendricks of Fisher, TX.
Kent was the product of a proud military heritage. His father, Tatum Hendricks, was an Army Air Corps World War II B-24 side gunner and damage assessment photographer. Tatum flew 99 missions and received the Flying Cross and Silver Star. Kent’s oldest brother, Craig, was an Army private first class who lost his life in the line of duty during the Vietnam conflict. His sister Sherrill is a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
Kent was member of Company A-1 and was the company minstrel, strumming his guitar throughout the four years of West Point. Leaning on country and western roots, he introduced us to Van Morrison, Dylan, J.J. Cale, Steve Earle, and Elton John. Kent played 150-pound (now sprint) football and rugby, and he boxed on the company team. Our senior year he coached four A-1 boxers into the Brigade Open finals and was quite the corner man. Never one to allow academics to come in the way of a good time, Kent’s humor pulled many of us out of the depths of gloom periods and area tours. One 1972 dinner in the mess hall was marked with sitting at a table with a Rhodes Scholar Army captain (an English professor) and his Oxford roommate, Kris Kristofferson, another good Texan, who was entertaining the corps of cadets that weekend. Kent engaged Kris in a discussion of the new wave of country music, impressing all, and Kris said Kent looked like Steve McQueen’s stunt double.
Kent avoided getting demerits and punishment tours as a rule but did get caught dressed in blue jeans delivering a case of Coors (following an away Air Force game) to our Texan tactical officer’s quarters, an ironic event that hardened his view of dress codes. He was not cited for escorting alcohol on post, but for wearing Levi’s. To ease the time he spent in confinement, Kent picked up the Bible and read it cover to cover. A true wordsmith, he was a lover of all books, a hobby that he pursued his entire life. Also, being the good family man he was, we housed his younger brother, Carter, who just graduated high school, in East Barracks for the month preceding our graduation!
Kent graduated with the Pride of the Corps in 1974 and became an Army captain, serving in Korea (where he met his partner, Inja); Fort Hood, TX; Germany; and finally Fort Irwin, CA. At Fort Irwin, he became curator of the post’s museum. This reignited his lifelong pursuit of collecting books, music, and memorabilia. Books consumed his home to the point of cookbooks holding up the breakfast table, and coffee tables made from years of magazines. While at Fort Hood, Kent became a founding member of post’s rugby team. He also introduced several comrades to the Austin Blacks, which led to the tradition of active duty soldiers playing for the Blacks to this day.
After 10 years of honorable service, Kent got his teaching degree and became a high school math teacher in Victorville, retiring in 2012 after 26 years of forming America’s future citizens. During this time, Kent penned a novel, “Tales of the Mother Lode,” which was quite entertaining but, alas, never published. Kent was an active rugby player in southern California, eventually rising to referee status. Kent’s lifelong love of rugby created a huge and loyal group of friends that became his second family. Always enjoying the moment was his creed, “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.”
Kent also pursued deep sea diving, and fishing with Carter. He took several cross-county motorcycle tours, riding a nice BMW. His guitar collection was epic.
Kent visited my wife and me over the years, connecting with us everywhere we have lived: Germany, Texas, California, and Arizona, always bringing a blast of light and life to each encounter. Kent was also the greatest friend when the need arose, taking a classmate (Gary Wayne Roberts) fighting cancer to the USC-Arkansas game and housing another friend down on his luck, fighting the evils of addiction. He was a saint of the first degree.
Every Christmas, Kent sent cards to this extended family that had a famous poem or soliloquy. These missives were cherished and became one of the holidays’ most awaited gifts. His choices, ranging from Carl Sandberg to Ella Wheeler Wilcox and including his mother’s early poems, expressed eclectic thoughts on the year past as well as hope for the future. This collection of holiday cheer is available on the Class of 1974’s website: https://usma1974-potc.smugmug.com.
Unfortunately, Lewy body dementia robbed Kent from us, attacking both his memory and his motion. A wonderful mind, a gentle soul, and an athletic life was stopped way too soon, but I am sure his light will be carried by his family and friends.
— Vic Pasini ’74
Life’s Clock (1944)
The clock of life is wound
but once
and no man has the power
To tell just when the hands
will stop
—at late or early hour.
The present only is our own.
Live, Love, Toil with a will.
Place no faith in tomorrow-
For the clock may then be still.