It would usually be enough to focus on Henderson’s 16-year career with the Tampa Tribune, where he covered the first eight seasons of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and all the colorful adventures that entailed.

But as Henderson wrote in his 1983 farewell column, he realized that his biggest career goal could be summed up in one sentence:

“I want to see soccer succeed in America.’’

The acquired taste of soccer became Henderson’s life. He worked as vice president of public relations for Team America, a national-team concept that led into the Olympics and World Cup, then shifted to communications roles with the North American Soccer League and U.S. Soccer.

After serving as Venue Press Officer for Orlando’s World Cup games in 1994, he became public relations director for Major League Soccer’s Tampa Bay Mutiny. He has continued with a variety of broadcasting and public-address roles for professional and amateur soccer.

But for those of a certain age, Henderson will always be synonymous with coverage of the Rowdies’ glory days. He saw it all — and wrote it all.

“I laughed when Rodney Marsh changed his pants in Tampa Stadium,’’ Henderson wrote as he left the Tribune for his second act in soccer. “I cussed when my stupid computer didn’t work, or when my plane was cancelled, or when an athlete or coach didn’t treat me with the courtesy I treated him. And I breathed a sigh of relief when the story was in—on time.’’