Dr. Henneke became President of the University of Tulsa on June 1, 1958. His inauguration, held more than 10 months later on April 16, 1959, was broadcast on all three local television stations.

During the years of Henneke's presidency, there were many milestones...  TU's "North Campus", Sidney Born Technical Library, Golden Hurricane football legends Jerry Rhome and Howard Twilley were nominated for the Heisman Trophy, "Reading You'll Like", a radio show created by Dr. Henneke, achieved the benchmark of it's 400th broadcast, James Joyce Quarterly debuted, TU founded it's Petroleum Abstracts service, several buildings were constructed, academic standards were raised, full accreditation was granted, and much, much more.  His accomplishments and triumphs for the University are enumerable.  Under his leadership, the University of Tulsa was grown and transformed, and every part shone with intense luminosity.

After serving nearly a decade as President, Ben returned to the classroom in 1967 as a Trustees Professor of Humanities. His classes on Greek, Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance culture were famous among students.  Many of his students traveled to Italy with him to experience firsthand what he illuminated in the classroom.
Ben retired from teaching in 1979, the same year that the Henneke Archives of the Performing Arts were established at TU. In 1982, he was named President Emeritus.

Dr. Henneke was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in April of 1963, the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 1992; and in October of 2002, Dr. Henneke was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Read Dr. Henneke's Presidential Messages

President Henneke's Inauguration, April 16, 1959