Thomas Edward Hennigh was born July 20, 1939, to Harold and Fern Hennigh of Longmont, Colo. He was a direct son of the American Revolution: the great-great-great grandson of Christophel Hennigh a Sergeant in Capt. Moyer's Co. 6th battalion, Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. The spirit of independence ran deep in Tom, who always held individual liberty to be paramount. He was never one to shy away from a discussion about the proper role of government.
Tom was raised on a dairy farm which he understood at one time was one of the largest in the state. He went to school in Bashor and Hygiene, and attended high school in Longmont where he was full-back on the 1955 state championship football team. He began college at Nebraska Wesleyan where he considered becoming a Methodist minister. After several semesters he transferred to the University of Colorado where he graduated and then stayed on to achieve a Master's degree in economics.
Tom was an extremely hard worker well into his last years. His early career started back east as economist with the Baltimore Ohio railroad. He later moved to Wyoming where he worked for an oil company, and then to Battle Mountain, where he worked for mining companies Echo Bay and then Newmont.
He would make the long trek by car from Battle Mountain to the San Francisco Bay Area to see his son Scott, daughter-in-law Kathleen, and three grandchildren Hunter, Hudson, and Heather. He always returned to Battle Mountain which he valued as his home, and found friends and comfort in the Methodist church there.
He died June 12, 2011, on Pentecost. He is also survived by his two sisters, Mary Ann Myer of Niwot, Colo., and Doris Edelen of Montrose, Colo.
A memorial service will be held on Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 152 W. Second St. Battle Mountain.[[In-content Ad]]
