Born in Higbee, Missouri in 1899, Henry lived in Mystic, Iowa where his father was a coal miner. Henry joined the United Mine Workers at age 14 and held various union offices until becoming an official of UMW District 13 (Iowa) in 1932. In 1937 he was assigned to the staff of the CIO and in 1939 he became Regional Director. In 1938 he became the first secretary-treasurer of the Iowa-Nebraska States Industrial Union Council and then president in 1941. He served as CIO regional director, then as an official of the AFL-CIO until retiring in 1963. That year he was appointed by Governor Harold Hughes to the Iowa State Merit System Council, serving until 1968. Henry also served on a variety of boards, including the War Manpower Commission and the War Labor Board. He died in 1976.
From the description of Henry, Ben A. papers, 1909-1976. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 44613306
