Obit: Hennessey, Denis  (1873 - 1953)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: Hennessey

----Source: The Loyal Tribune  (Loyal, Clark County, Wis. 15 Jan 1953)

Hennessey, Denis  (1873-24 NOV 1953)

Word has recently been received of the death of Denis L. Hennessey, November 24, at Berkly, Calif. Mr. Hennessey was principal of the Loyal High School around the turn of the century, and many living in this area were graduated from the high school, or were under-graduate students while he was principal.

He was born in Hudson, Wis., in 1873 and was next to the youngest in a family of ten children. He taught schools in the state and was principal of Pullman, Wash, High School before going to California.

He became a well-known civic leader in California in many forms but his greatest interest seemed to be Americanism and until illness forced him to quit giving instruction he trained foreign born in Americanism classes. His personal work enabled thousands to become American citizens. From 1924 to 1932 he commuted three evenings a week to San Francisco to teach citizenship and there he personally prepared 3000 citizens for citizenship.

His "Little green book," "Twenty five Lessons in Citizenship", now in it’s sixtieth edition, is used in hundreds of eighth grade classes throughout the United States.

He had been in failing health for a year but had been confined to his bed for about two weeks preceding his death.

Besides his widow, Mrs. Grace Hennessey, he leaves two daughters and six grandchildren.