If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my family over the years, it’s that we don’t do things the easy way—we do them the Henning way. That usually involves a fair amount of ingenuity and persistence. Occasionally, it includes assembling an entire fleet of buses without an instruction manual. But I’ll get to that.
From South Africa to the World: The Henning Spirit
My family’s story is one of resilience and determination. This stretches across continents and generations. One of the most remarkable figures in our lineage is Prof. Cosmo Grenville Henning, my father, who was born in 1932 to Cecil Redvers Henning and Sylvia Maud Rudman. Cecil, my grandfather, was a true pioneer—someone who saw opportunities where others saw obstacles.
One of my favorite stories about him is how, after World War II, he set out to build a bus transportation empire in South Africa. He traveled all the way to California to buy a fleet of GMC buses. They arrived in South Africa in crates, completely disassembled, without a single manual to put them back together. But that didn’t stop him. With sheer determination and mechanical ingenuity, he reassembled them piece by piece. Eventually, he launched Henning Bus Service, which connected Uitenhage, Redhouse, Despatch, and Port Elizabeth. I’d like to think that same “figure it out” mentality runs in my blood.
A Family Tradition of Excellence and Service
Growing up in a family that valued intelligence, hard work, and making a difference, I naturally gravitated toward medicine. I followed a different path, moving to the U.S. to practice emergency medicine. I’ve spent over 25 years in high-pressure medical environments, helping patients at their most critical moments.
I often think about how my ancestors approached challenges—whether it was building businesses from scratch or adapting to life in new countries. That same determination is what I bring to my work as a physician. Emergency medicine demands quick thinking, adaptability, and an ability to thrive in unpredictable situations. These are traits that seem to be a Henning family specialty.
A Legacy That Lives
The Henning name has always been synonymous with innovation and perseverance. From bus-building pioneers to academics and doctors, we’ve always found ways to push forward. We do this, no matter the challenge. And while my work in medicine may look different from my grandfather’s mechanical mastery, I like to think we share the same drive—to solve problems, to serve others, and to never back down from a challenge.
I’m proud to be a Henning. And while I haven’t had to assemble any buses lately, I’d like to think that if I had to, I could probably figure it out. After all, it runs in the family.