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Rural Favorite Henson Says So Long

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

More than once, Haywood Henson has been mistaken for Richard Petty.

His producer, Deg'er Saner, tells a story about one night in a restaurant when a couple had a bet riding on the identity of the tall, thin man in the black hat.

When they learned it wasn't the auto racing legend, the wife wanted an autograph anyway because he was Haywood Henson, Saner says.

Henson, who has hosted a local television show in the Bay area for more than 21 years, has a following.

City folk may not be fans. But in Brandon, Valrico, Plant City and most of Polk County, Henson is a celebrity.

As for that Petty look, it's the hat and dark glasses, he says. "I started wearing them back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when I was working as a heavy-metal veejay at WTMV, Channel 32."

Back then, WTMV was a low-budget operation based in Lakeland. It filled its broadcast day with music videos. Henson had a curly perm and a totally different look. He presented heavy-metal videos, but his heart was in country.

"I would go out at night to listen to country music and wear the dark glasses and hat as a disguise," he says.

He didn't want to take his heavy-metal look into those places.

Comfortable Cowboy Look

When WTMV gave up on videos and gave Henson a morning talk show, he adopted the cowboy look. He's more comfortable in jeans anyway. He's also comfortable around a race track. The Canton, N.C., native used to drive the dirt tracks in the Carolinas.

WTMV eventually relocated to Tampa and became WMOR. Henson's show also eventually relocated to WXPX, Channel 66.

"The Haywood Henson Show" airs for the last time at 5:30 p.m. Saturday after more than 3,000 episodes.

"It's time to leave television," Henson says. "It's been a long ride, and I've had a lot of fun, but no one is doing a show like this anymore."

Henson reflected the rural sensibilities and spoke to an audience that is disappearing as the Bay area has become suburban and yuppified.

There was a lot of pickin' and grinnin' on the Henson show. He introduced local country music performers. He gave air time to numerous charities. He interviewed visiting celebrities. There were many memorable moments, but the one that stands out was an interview with female wrestler Luna Vachon from "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling."

"She had a python wrapped around her neck, and that snake's head kept bobbing in my face," he recalls.

When he asked her whether she had ever been bitten, she said "once or twice," and then the snake bit her.

"We were live on camera, and it shocked the whole crew," he says.

On his final program, he plans to share highlights of his TV career and guests who have been on his shows.

A country music performer who had enjoyed some success in Kentucky, he came to Lakeland in 1979. A year later, he went on WPVC radio as the Midnight Rambler. He became a radio personality in Polk County, and in 1989 he made the switch to television.

Kentucky Roots

Prior to coming to Tampa, Henson made a splash in Kentucky by writing and recording a novelty song, "The Ballad of Adolph Rupp," a tribute to the legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach.

He started performing in the 1960s and opened for numerous country stars. He also worked as a disc jockey in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Florida. He has interviewed stars such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynne, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks and Ricky Skaggs.

Henson still picks up his guitar and plays now and then. In 2005, he was awarded a plaque by the Florida State Fair for his 3,000th performance at the fair.

He says he is most proud of being able to support fundraising and charity events in the area for groups such as the American Cancer Society, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Toys for Tots and Boy Scouts of America.

On Jan. 26 and 27, he will host the annual Steel Guitar Jam in Lakeland, a fundraiser for the Shriners that brings in steel guitar players from around the world.

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