Steve Labenz and Florence Henderson

WFGR's very own Steve Labenz had the opportunity to meet Florence Henderson. Here is Steve's story...

With the recent passing of Florence Henderson I was immediately taken back to the summer of 1988 when I first came to town to work at the old 95.7 “W-Light”. My program director, Steve Dirksen, drove us out to Holland for the grand opening of Prange’s Department Store where Henderson would help with the ribbon cutting ceremony. He was a big fan of the Brady Bunch and, as a joke, even brought along a bottle of Wesson Oil, which Henderson had been advertising for some time.

I was nervous to meet a celebrity but Henderson couldn’t have been more pleasant and accommodating. She laughed the loudest when Dirksen brought out the Wesson Oil and happily posed with it. When it was my turn to get a picture and I was standing next to her she said something about not being so formal and pulled my arm around her and grabbed the bottle of oil for the shot you see.

Over the last many years I have been lucky enough to meet many celebrities but I will always have fond memories of Florence Henderson and that summer day my first year in Grand Rapids. Rest in peace, Mrs. Brady.