James M. Henderson

James Marvin "M." Henderson (1921-1995) retired from the eponymous Henderson Agency in 1986 at the age of 65.

Born 1921, he founded the agency in 1946.

In 1974, his til-then life story was described as a "slightly cracker-barrel rags-to-riches saga."

By 1986, his agency was described by The New York Times as "one of the bigger agencies in the Southeast."

The ad agency, which received New York Times coverage, built and extended its bench strength, though not without a hiccup.

Special Assistant to the Postmaster General for Public Information

Henderson took a one year leave of absence from his advertising agency to serve as Special Assistant to the Postmaster General for Public Information, returning February 1970.

American Association of Advertising Agencies

Henderson was elected secretary-treasurer of American Association of Advertising Agencies, "the most prestigious organization in its field" in 1971.

Closure after 60 years

Twenty years after Henderson retired from the agency he had founded, the headline "A South Carolina Agency Closes Its Doors" told about the end of what The New York Times called Henderson Advertising.

It was noted in a regional obituary that Henderson was "known for putting Greenville on the national advertising map" because "in 1980 .. the first ad agency outside of Chicago or New York to be named Advertising Agency of the Year by Advertising Age magazine."