Namesakes: Al Hendrickson

Begun in 1991 and completed in 1992, the COPE Tower was made possible through a combination of donated labor and materials as well as a financial contribution from COPE’s patron saint Billy Walker. An impressive structure, the tower’s construction involved Nashville Electric Service drilling holes for and donating the posts and the Navy Seabees pouring the concrete floor. And yet, the tower is dedicated to and named after a man most people don’t know today: Al Hendrickson.

Born in August 1927, Alvin Eugene Hendrickson was a military man for a long time. He served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His service spanned three different branches of the armed forces: the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. Always an enlisted man, he eventually retired from the Tennessee Air National Guard after 40 years of service in the US Military. Originally from Washington state, Hendrickson was also a Shriner, a Mason, and a member of Faith Methodist Church, where he had served as Sunday School Superintendent.

He was also a Scouter and involved with a host of Scouting activities. He was Scoutmaster of his troop for a time. At Boxwell, he was often involved in Brownsea, serving as the program’s quartermaster, and with Wood Badge as well. Indeed, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Hendrickson was a fixture on the Reservation, popping up in connection to a variety of events and programs.

Of course, he was most well known for his connection to COPE. He was involved with the construction and development of COPE from almost the beginning. He became the second director of the program and remained active with the program even after giving up the directorship. By all reports he was a pretty easy man to work for and his military background made him an excellent organizer. He was a man who could get things done.

As for the tower name, it was Billy Walker who decided he wanted the tower named after Hendrickson. Dutch Mann carved the wooden sign and Walker had the metal plaque made. It was dedicated to Hendrickson at end of Wood Badge MT-38 in September 1994.

He passed away on July 28, 2014 at the age of 86.