He was in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1946, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He returned to private practice in Buffalo, and was a clerk of the Surrogate Court of Erie County, New York from 1947 to 1948.
He was the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York from 1953 to 1959.
[1] On August 21, 1959, Henderson was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York vacated by Judge Justin C. Morgan.
He served as Chief Judge from 1967 until his death on February 19, 1974.