Lt. Colonel Thomas Lewis Hennigh, age 81, of Madison, AL, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at Huntsville Hospital. He was born on April 18, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas to William Harvey Hennigh and Mary Alice Stringer Hennigh.
Thomas attended Gulfport High School in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he played basketball under Coach Bert Jenkins, arguably the best high school basketball coach in Mississippi. During his senior year in 1965, Tom served as an altar boy at his church, where he first met Father Herbert Ward Jr., a newly ordained priest serving in his first position as an associate director.
This friendship would last throughout Father Ward’s life. Tom went on to attend Oklahoma State University on a basketball scholarship, where he was a letterman on the 1963-64 and 1964-65 Men’s Basketball teams under the legendary Coach Henry P. Iba. He was part of the 1965 Big Eight Regular Season championship team. Coach Iba, whom John Wooden described as “Basketball’s greatest friend and finest gentleman,” was known as the “Iron Duke of Defense” for his strategic brilliance and discipline that revolutionized the sport. Tom often spoke of Coach Iba as the most principled, modest, loyal, gracious, dignified and considerate man he ever met, and credited him with forging the man he would become. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Oklahoma State University and later obtained his Master of Management from Weber University in 1980.
Tom was also a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Oklahoma Mu Chapter, where the values of character, balance, and hospitality shaped his collegiate experience. The fraternity’s ideals of friendship, scholarship, and service remained important to him throughout his life.
Lt. Colonel Hennigh served his country with honor and distinction in the United States Army as a Cannon Field Artillery Officer for 20 years. He served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star for his meritorious service. He received an Honorable Discharge and retired from military service in 1987. Following his military retirement, Tom worked for Teledyne Brown Engineering until his retirement.
He married his beloved wife, Barbara Edwards, on May 15, 1993, and they shared 32 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Thomas was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who treasured the times his sons would visit with their families and the opportunities he had to go to Virginia to visit them. He had a charitable heart and volunteered at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children under the direction of Executive Director Father Herbert Ward in 1971, reuniting with his longtime friend and mentor. He contributed to what became one of Southern Nevada’s most successful nonprofit organizations.
An avid reader of history and current events, he loved engaging in meaningful discussions about politics, religion, and the state of the economy and world events. He was passionate about sharing his faith with others and attended St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church and Crosspoint Baptist Church.
Tom and Barbara loved watching and traveling to Alabama football games together, a shared passion that brought them great joy. He also enjoyed watching basketball games and providing his keen analysis of each team’s strengths and weaknesses. Tom and Barbara loved to travel together, enjoying numerous cruises to the western Caribbean and memorable trips to Germany, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Harvey Hennigh and Mary Alice Stringer Hennigh.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Hennigh; his sons, Roger Hennigh and Christopher Hennigh; and his cherished grandchildren, Michaela J. Hennigh, Annaliese J. Hennigh, Jessica E. Hennigh, and Jonathan A. Hennigh.
Visitation will be from 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow immediately in the chapel with Pastor Scott Gossett officiating. Burial will follow in Huntsville Memory Gardens.
