ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – OCTOBER 6, 2008 – Lt. Colonel Patrick Matthews (Class of 1984), Mr. Uleses C. Henderson, Jr. (Class of 1989), and Mr. Anthony Stevens (Class of 1993).
Established in 1991, the Rowland High School Hall of Fame honors the outstanding success of former students. These graduates excel in their chosen fields of endeavor and/or have made significant contributions to society. Nominations arrive from a variety of sources and a selection committee reviews the nominations and makes the final selection.
Patrick Matthews, Lieutenant Colonel – U.S. Army: (Class of 1984)
Lieutenant Colonel Matthews has spent most of his life in defense of the United States of America. After graduating from West Point in 1988, he was commissioned a Lieutenant of Infantry and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Later he was deployed for a unit exchange to the British School of Infantry in England and then to Panama before being sent to the Persian Gulf as the Headquarters Company Executive Officer, where he coordinated sustainment for a 550-man battalion task force for six months during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.
In April 1991, Matthews became an Army Aviator and was qualified as a cavalry Aeroscout. His unit defended the Western Corridor of the Republic of Korea, one mile south of the Demilitarized Zone. From 1992-2001 he served in a number of locations and positions. He served his second tour in the Republic of Korea as the Executive Officer in 2001. He trained the staff for combat operations in defense of the Korean Peninsula and was personally qualified in planning, leading and executing complex attack helicopter operations under the most demanding conditions using night vision sensors over water. After Korea, he deployed to Kuwait to invade Iraq in March 2003 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Since 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Matthews has served at Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command - United States Northern Command (NORAD-USNORTHCOM), Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has held several key leadership positions in Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA), to include the military response during Hurricane Katrina.
Matthews’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Southwest Asian Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Uleses C. Henderson, Jr. – Attorney At Law: (Class of 1989)
After graduating from Rowland, Henderson attended Purdue University, where he graduated with honors and earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. While at Purdue, he began working at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia as a research scientist. Upon graduating from Purdue, Henderson was awarded a postgraduate fellowship by The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science (“GEM”). As a GEM Fellow, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where he earned his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Henderson worked in the aerospace industry as a spacecraft designer for the Aerospace Corporation and TRW’s Space and Technology Division. While working for TRW, he enrolled in Loyola (Los Angeles) Law School’s evening program and earned his Jurist Doctorate. At Loyola, Henderson served as Executive Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review.
Henderson is currently an Associate at the law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP, where he specializes in intellectual property and entertainment. Uleses serves as outside counsel to several Fortune 100 companies and associate counsel to the Church of God in Christ, Inc, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Henderson is a frequent presenter of legal topics and has participated in seminars for the National Bar Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Gospel Music Academy, and the California State Bar. Uleses is also a licensed minister and serves as both a member of the board of directors and special counsel to his church, West Angeles Church of God in Christ.
Anthony Stevens – Retail Merchandising: (Class of 1993)
When he was growing up, Anthony’s first love was always football. He started playing Jr. All American Football as a young kid and was looking forward to playing on the Rowland High School team. He worked hard all through the weeks of practice; however, right before the first game he was in a tragic accident on the football field which resulted in a vascular bleed in his brain. He spent several months in the hospital, but due to his tremendous determination was able to return to Rowland High School at second semester. Though Anthony returned to school in a wheel chair, he was determined to persevere in a regular class schedule with no assistance.
Anthony would never be able to play football again, but it did not stop him from being in the middle of the action. He became the team manager, started a roller blade hockey club at Rowland, made up all his classes, and graduated on schedule. Shortly after graduation, Anthony had another medical situation that left him unable to walk. However, he still had determination and a “never give up” attitude and continued his education at Mt. San Antonio College where he earned a degree in math. Today, he lives as independently as possible, continues to assist his parents, swims, surfs, and successfully holds a full time job in retail sales. He has a love of the Bears football team, Sheri (his girlfriend of two years) and his family and friends. He is a positive role model of fortitude and courage and has earned the respect of everyone who knows him.