Jim Henderson

From day to day sports coverage, to deep-sea fishing WWL-TV's Jim Henderson always keeps his eye on the game. Starting with his Little League days in his native Rochester, New York, Jim quickly learned that sports was his calling. After receiving his Bachelors Degree in English from the State University of New York at Cortland, Jim went on to get his Masters in Radio and Television from Syracuse University.

Jim began his sports reporting career with the Sports Director position at a Panama City station, then leapt to a major market as a Sports Reporter in Atlanta. Jim joined Channel 4 in 1978, when he was offered the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of WWL-TV's sports-casting legend, Hap Glaudi.

"I have the best job in the world, but, my responsibility is not to the coaches and players, but to the people who make sports special: the fans," says Jim, " and, Louisiana sports fans are dedicated, they expect the best from everybody, from players to reporters."

And, the best is what Jim has given them, earning him the distinction of being a 13-time winner of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association's - Sportscaster of the Year Award; an award conferred by sports journalists from all over Louisiana. "The awards are great, but having people compliment me on providing fair and informed coverage on their favorite team is the true reward," Jim observed.

His work as a reporter for CBS Newspath takes him on a regular basis to the Super Bowl, The Masters, and the Major League All-Star Baseball game.

Jim has also shown himself to be a great play-by-play announcer with his work with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. The chemistry between Jim and Archie kept them broadcasting Saints games events to viewers and listeners from 1986 through 1997. On Thursday's 10PM newscasts Jim and Archie give their analysis of the upcoming Saints' game and currently team up with Hokie Gajan as the radio play-by-play voice of the Saints since 1986.

When not covering sports, Jim enjoys fishing and tennis. Jim has residences in Poplarville, Mississippi, and Mandeville, Louisiana. He's married with two grown children -- Derek and Lindsay.

jhenderson@wwltv.com