Former Lawrence City Commissioner Jim Henry, who during his time in city government was known for lending an ear to citizens, died Tuesday at age 82.

Henry served on the commission from 1999 to 2003, and his fellow commissioner Marty Kennedy recalls Henry regularly reporting on his conversations with Lawrence residents.

“He would always take phone calls from the public and then he would always share that information with the rest of the city commissioners,” Kennedy said, noting that he recalled Henry being particularly concerned with providing good city services, whether it be the police, fire or street department.

Former City Manager Mike Wildgen also remembers Henry as a man always open for a conversation. Wildgen said that at that time, the meeting agendas and related documents were still hand-delivered to commissioners.

Jim Henry

“I’d take it to Jim’s and he’d welcome me in and we’d talk, not about issues necessarily, just about what was going on and stuff like that,” Wildgen said. “That was the kind of guy he was.”

In an election profile published in the Journal-World in 1999, Henry reportedly began his campaign by attending forums, shaking hands and meeting neighbors. At the time, Henry explained that after often being overlooked growing up because of his small stature, he “couldn’t stand exclusion.”

“If I see someone standing over at the side, I want to go over and get them involved,” Henry said. “Because I’ve been there. I want everyone to be included in the process.”

Henry, who earned his doctorate in education from the University of Kansas, worked for KU for 30 years. He retired as director of placement for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Placement Division. Henry also spent about 32 years in active and reserve duty in the Navy, serving as a pilot and intelligence officer and ultimately retiring with the rank of captain.

As far as how Henry conducted business as commissioner and during his term as mayor from 2000 to 2001, Wildgen described him as a “grand gentleman.”

“He was a nice, quiet leader,” Wildgen said. “He wasn’t bombastic or anything like that. You respected him for how he led without being overruling — just somebody that you wanted to be with, and somebody that you wanted to try to help.”

Survivors include Henry’s wife of 59 years, Kay Henry, and their two daughters, Barb Henry and Jennifer McWilliams. Services for Henry will be 10 a.m. Oct. 21 at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St.