Donald Gene Henslee

Donald “Don” Gene Henslee passed away at his home on December 2, 2025, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Charlene Henslee; his daughter, Kassandra Ward; his son, Leslie Henslee; and his beloved grandchildren, Mason and Braden Ward.

Don was raised in Grapeland and Beaumont, Texas, along with his younger siblings — Sherry, Vancene, Roxanne, and Joey. Having grown up with a physical disability, Don understood early what it meant to face barriers, and he carried that awareness into a lifelong dedication to opening up education for others. In high school, he was deeply involved in band, where he played the French horn. His love of music continued throughout his life—every Saturday night, he set aside time to listen to new and old favorites ranging from Willie Nelson to Diana Krall. He attended Lamar University and the University of Houston for his undergraduate studies and earned his law degree from the University of Houston, all on scholarship. He was licensed to practice law in both Texas and Washington.

For decades, Don dedicated his career to education law in Texas, representing hundreds of school districts throughout the state. He became a recognized expert in Texas special-education law and school law, authoring influential legal analyses and several reference books, such as the Texas Principals Handbook, still used by school administrators and attorneys today. He brought significant cases before state and federal courts, including matters that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. His firm also published the long-running periodical Texas School Law News, a trusted resource for educators and legal professionals across the state. Don was especially proud of earning a mediation certificate from Harvard University, and he brought those conflict-resolution techniques into his everyday legal practice.

After retirement from district-level school law work, Don continued to serve the community by representing individuals and families, especially those navigating special education, ensuring people received adequate representation and support. Throughout his personal and professional life, he remained deeply committed to education and mentorship, nurturing young people, opening doors to new experiences, and helping them discover their potential. Having traveled widely himself from Tahiti to Nigeria, he loved taking his children and grandchildren to places like London, New Orleans, and the Tetons. Whether sharing the world with his family or helping young lawyers develop their careers, Don approached mentorship as an act of widening the world. He delighted in showing others what life could hold and encouraged them to step toward their own possibilities.

Outside his professional life, Don was an avid home chef who delighted in cooking. He worked his way through nearly the entire Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child and explored endless recipes from celebrated chefs such as Jacques Pépin and Graham Kerr. His shelves held at least fifty dog-eared cookbooks, each marked with notes, splatters, and experiments. Beloved family favorites included his apple pie, corn timbale, gumbo, chocolate torte, and roast duck — meals as rich as the stories shared around the table. Later in life, he spent countless hours in his woodworking studio – carving and crafting tables and keepsakes.

Though he attended University of Houston, Don never missed a game of the Texas Longhorns football team. Through victories and losses, he cheered, cursed, hoped, and celebrated — a loyal fan at heart.

Don’s journey also included profound personal growth; his life was deeply influenced by the principles of sobriety and self-improvement he found through involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous. That path shaped his compassion, resilience, and belief in second chances.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Don to get involved with, or provide support to, local organizations that offer mentorship and assistance to young people. Don’s life was marked by generosity, mentorship, care for education, and love for family. His legacy will live on through his children and grandchildren and through every life touched by his work and spirit.