George A. Henson III

George A. Henson III, of Manitou Springs, Colorado died Thursday, April 14, 2011. George was born on Jan. 14, 1928 in Shreveport, LA to Leona and George Henson II. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 30 years, his children, George Bradley Henson, George Henson IV, and Cynthia Lynn Henson, and Mary's children, Ann Johnston, and Robert Brady as well as six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

George was an entrepreneur, artist, and outdoorsman whose accomplishments were many. As a youth in Ft. Worth he raised and sold squab, worked in the Federal Fish Hatchery and was a timekeeper for Volte Aircraft Builder. He attended Allen Military Academy in Bryan, TX where he was distinguished with awards in marksmanship and later attended Texas Tech as an architecture major. In the '50s he had an active career in television as a grip at WBA TV in Ft. Worth, and Art Director at KBTV in Dallas, and then Production Manager at KBTV in Denver and for Channel 5 in Pueblo. While on sabbatical, he became a gun stock artist for the Weatherby Rifle Co. in California, which also afforded him the opportunity to act in The Rifleman TV series. Eventually, George’s love of the outdoors drew him back to Colorado Springs. In the '60s he owned Western Taxidermy and Outfitters and had hosted his own wildlife show on KKTV. In working with Alexander Film Company, he was featured in nationally airing television commercials. He then became Director of Land Sales for Woodmoor Corp. and Bahia de Santiago in Mexico. He rose to the title of Vice President of Marketing for Ingersol Republic. In the '70s he began sculpting and created limited edition bronzes – a career that saw him become a nationally known artist and creator of 99.9% silver sculptures as the House Sculptor for the International Mint Corp. As an artist, George was a pioneer in bas relief sculpture and his cast paper designs were marketed worldwide by Fidelity Arts of L.A. Most of all, he will be remembered as a creative thinker with unbounded curiosity who, throughout his life, was an observer of his environment and how our relationship with it could be better, easier or more fun. He was routinely awarded patents for his various inventions. This inventiveness was also applied to his greatest passion: the creative renovation of his own home – a functional paradise where he lived for over 35 years. He will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Craftwood Inn, 404 El Paso Blvd., Manitou Springs on May 27 at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Pike’s Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pike’s Peak Avenue, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3624.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.