Jolene Sollivan and her professional partner Charlie Quinonez, danced a to “The Merry Widow Waltz” by Franz Lehar.

2013 Results

Overall winner – Darla Janice Richards

Best Male Dancer – Anton Melnyk

Best Female Dancer – Mikea Glenn

Best Costume – Jeff Groban

Showmanship – Tommy Taylor

Sarah Proctor and her professional partner Eean Cochran, danced a samba to “On The Floor” by JLO.

Anton Melnyk and his partner, Erin Utley, a professional dancer. They danced a Tango to “Santa Maria” by Gotan Project.

Sherry Burchell and her partner, Jason Hernandez, a professional dancer, danced a Pop Disco number from the 1960s, “Sherry” by Jersey Boys and “Oh What A Night” by The Four Seasons.

Tommy Taylor with his partner, Lin Thompson, a professional dancer, danced in the Country Swing category to “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” by Big and Rich.

Visitors gather in the Main Building Auditorium for a reenactment of Mrs. Hendrick giving a piano lesson.

Wagonmaster Jay Jones and his trusty horse Willie provided wagon rides around the 52-acre campus throughout the birthday party.

Well, he would say that he’s “talking to someone a darn sight smarter than you are” and go back to his thoughts and his plans for the day or… his plans for you, for a stranger he never met… or for a child.

Thomas Gould Hendrick thought quite a lot about you, that is, if you are someone who has ever used the the roads of Fort Worth or wanted for good medical facilities or needed special services for a child.  He not only thought of these things, he provided for them.

Born in Paradise, Kentucky to school teachers during the Civil War, Mr. Hendrick witnessed the advent of flight, the harnassing of electricity, the Great Depression, two world wars and the arrival of the Atomic Age.  During his life, he raised sheep, served as a county commissioner and judge – even delivered fast mail on horseback for two years.  He wasn’t just a doer though, he was a dreamer.  Alongside of this beloved wife Ida Nations Hendrick, Mr. Hendrick also struck oil and enjoyed profitable land purchases and cattle ranching.  His only son Joseph died as a toddler, but Mr. Hendrick turned his success and dreams into vital resources for other children and future generations he would never meet.

Built on 52 acres and opened in June 1939, Hendrick Home for Children consisted of three structures – the main building, a large garage with an overhead apartment, and the superintendent’s home. The Home was intended not as an orphanage, but as a home for children who could not live with their natural parents, a frequent phenomenon just after the Great Depression. It was Tom Hendrick’s wish that the children attend the Abilene public schools, have daily responsibilities, maintain ties with their families if possible, and attend church regularly.  Over the years, a swimming pool, cabana, gymnasium, family cottages, a horse barn, and a maintenance building have been built on the campus.  The M. Bernard Hanks Equestrian Center was built to provide equine therapy.  In the planning stages now is the construction of the Family Care Complex to provide short-term help to single-parent families in financial straits.

We were all glad to sing “Happy Birthday” to Mr. Hendrick today and enjoy a “glass” of coffee in honor of such a visionary man!

Mr. Hendrick’s 150th birthday party cake!

Mr. Hendrick’s 150th birthday party celebration included games, dancing and a barbecue lunch.

Could these be the future Dancing with the Abilene Stars?

Look who got a dance with Dr. Miller! Go, Ashley!

Special thanks go to the Hardin Simmons University Cowboy Band for their special kickoff of Mr. Hendrick’s 150th birthday party on the front lawn of the campus!

Visitors took a tour of the campus and stopped for a look inside of one of the cottages.

Roy Helen Ackers, center, and children watch the HSU Cowboy Band.

The Westfall Cottage boys cut a rug at Mr. Hendrick’s 150th birthday party.