2008 WEJF Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Robert Henderson began working in legal services 32 years ago, in 1976, when he was a law student advocate in Milwaukee Legal Services’ Migrant Project. In that capacity, he helped many migrant families to improve their housing and working conditions.

Robert graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1973, and went to work on the railroad, building railroad cars close by County Stadium, the home of the new baseball team in Milwaukee.

After graduating from the UW Law School in 1978, Robert engaged for a time in two joint trades: law practice and home construction. In 1980, he went to work as a staff attorney in La Crosse for a new legal services firm, Western Wisconsin Legal Services. He has spent the majority of his career there, helping poor people to secure their legal rights. He has served as a Managing Attorney and twice as Interim Director. During his last term as Interim Director, Bob played a key role in merger negotiations between Western Wisconsin Legal Services and Legal Action of Wisconsin.

Robert Henderson has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of poor and disadvantaged people in Wisconsin, and is a major reason for the success of Legal Action of Wisconsin’s services in Western Wisconsin.