Honoring a Giant Among Us: Remembering First Sergeant Henry Gatewood, Jr.
By Chief Robert Spinks, Parsons Police Department

On Saturday, November 15th, Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd and I had the honor of attending the funeral of a man whose life was nothing short of extraordinary-Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Henry Arthur Gatewood, Jr. More than 400 people filled the Parsons VFW Hall to capacity. They came from Lake Charles, Louisiana...from Fort Riley...from across the Midwest and across the nation. And they came from right here at home in Parsons-because Henry was home to so many of us.

The room was overflowing, yet if you ever met Henry Gatewood, you know he would have never counted that crowd as a measure of himself. He would have smiled, nodded humbly, and said he was just doing what needed to be done. That's who he was-steady, humble, principled, and always in service to someone other than himself.

Today, as a community, we pause to honor the life of this exceptional man, and we reflect on what he leaves behind for all of us to learn from and follow.

A Life Rooted in Parsons, and Dedicated to Service

Henry was born here in Parsons in 1941 and raised in the neighborhoods and classrooms that shaped so many community leaders. A proud graduate of Parsons West High School and Parsons Junior College (now Labette Community College), Henry's journey of service began the moment he stepped into basic training after college. What followed was a 25-year Army career that spanned continents, conflicts, and countless lives changed for the better.

His service took him to Germany-twice-Panama, Nicaragua, Korea, and Vietnam. He served in combat with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and worked alongside the 875th Combat Engineer Battalion at installations from Fort Meade to West Point. His roles were as diverse as they were demanding: combat engineer, platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, intelligence sergeant, Army advisor, instructor, and ultimately First Sergeant.

Henry's decorations alone read like a chapter in American military history:

• Silver Star
• Bronze Star
• Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
• Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters
• Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters
• Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars
• Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
  ...and many more.
   Each medal represented more than valor-it represented character.

A Second Life of Service to Community

After retiring from the Army in 1985, Henry continued serving-because that's what came naturally to him. He worked in care facilities and schools, influencing young people and adults alike. At the Labette County Correctional Camp, he led with discipline, dignity, and compassion. He taught, trained, mentored, and corrected-not to punish, but to build people up.

In Parsons, he became a pillar of faith, serving at Hamilton Chapel. He poured his heart into Brown Bishop VFW Post 704, eventually serving as a district commander for the Kansas VFW. His leadership and dedication earned him induction into the Kemper Military School and College Alumni Hall of Fame, the LCC Distinguished Alumni Award, and appointment as a colonel in the Kemper Corps of Cadets-one of only two non-cadets to receive such an honor.

But if you walked with Henry through town, he wouldn't talk to you about medals or titles. He'd talk about his family. His wife Martha, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He'd talk about the joy he found in sports, in traveling, in cruising, and in gathering with fellow veterans-men and women who shared his experience and his heart.

A Legacy for Parsons to Carry Forward

The front-page story in The Parsons Sun on November 14th captured what many of us already knew: Henry Gatewood lived a life of uncommon leadership, unshakable faith, and unwavering commitment to others. He was a man whose actions-across nations and right here in Parsons-quietly inspired generations.

As we remember him, I am struck by how much Henry exemplifies the values our community holds dear:

• Service above self.
• Courage when courage is required.
• Humility in every success.
• Commitment to family, community, and country.
• Faith that guides action.

Henry didn't just live these values-he modeled them every day. That is why more than 400 people gathered to honor him. That is why his name is spoken with reverence. And that is why his legacy will long outlive all of us.

Walking in His Footsteps

In law enforcement, we talk a lot about guardianship-about protecting and serving. First Sergeant Henry Gatewood lived that calling in every chapter of his life. His example challenges each of us-police officers, veterans, community members, and young people-to step forward, serve others, and build the kind of community he believed in.

The best way we can honor Henry is not simply by remembering him, but by emulating him.

• Show up for others.
• Serve with purpose.
• Lead with integrity.
• Love your family.
• Lift your community.

Parsons is stronger, kinder, and better because Henry Gatewood lived among us. And though we mourn his passing, we celebrate a life that leaves a shining path for the rest of us to follow.

Rest well, First Sergeant Gatewood. Your watch is complete-but your legacy marches on.