“Over the years, I learned that people who came to work here didn’t do it for a paycheck, because they couldn’t get paid enough. They did it because they loved us. They loved us unconditionally.” – Roy Henries, 2025 Ring of Honor
There’s something deeply moving about watching a former student return “home” to Timber Ridge School, often sharing exciting news about their life, or even introducing their families to the people who helped them rebuild themselves so that they could build up others.
But few homecomings have resonated like the one experienced at Timber Ridge School’s 2025 Ring of Honor Ceremony, when Roy Henries brought his trophy home.
Held on May 15, Timber Ridge’s annual Ring of Honor Ceremony was a celebration of staff, coaches, students, alumni, supporters, and members of the community who support our mission and make our work possible, but one part of the programming was different this year. First, let’s go back to 1974.
Roy Henries’s Legacy
Roy Henries came to us in 1974 a scared and confused boy: “I was mad at everything, didn’t trust anybody.” But after staying at the school for nearly a decade, experiencing counseling, mentorship, and love, Roy’s life was changed by his interactions with the staff and students at Timber Ridge.
“Over the years I learned that people that came to work here didn’t do it for a paycheck, because they couldn’t get paid enough… We gave them all they could handle and they took everything they gave them. As I look back, I know now that they love us. They loved us unconditionally. And there’s nothing that I would take to get those years away. I would take them and keep them; they are stuck in my brain,” Roy shared in his speech at the Ring of Honor ceremony.
During his time at the school, Roy went from a young man in need of healing to a standout student and athlete, being awarded the Ron McDole Football Award in 1982 by former Washington Redskins player Ron McDole himself, defensive end in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Roy graduated from Timber Ridge School in 1983.
Bringing His Trophy Home
This year, 43 years after the recognition, now fighting a serious illness, returned to the Timber Ridge gym to share a gesture of gratitude and presented his beloved Ron McDole Football Award back to the school: “It’s time for it to come back home.”
The trophy will join other accolades at TRS, standing as a testament to our students’ motivation and accomplishments. Ron’s dedication to bettering himself all those years ago, and in turn the entire Timber Ridge community in the years since, is an inspiration to us all.
A Half-Century Later
Here at Timber Ridge, our mission is to meet the challenges of today’s youth for future success. The unconditional love that Roy mentioned in his Ring of Honor address permeates everything we do. We are committed to working with our students as well as their families, doctors, and placing agencies to tailor treatment to the individualized needs of each adolescent who walks through our doors.
Roy’s story isn’t an anomaly; it’s a testimony to what we do. Today, we are still taking scared, confused, angry young men like Roy and transforming their lives with the dedication of our staff, the gift of specialized education, and physical and mental outlets like our athletics program, which provides the physical component to our emphasis on mental health and learning both inside the classroom and out.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission and for all you do to advance our important work. If you’re considering donating to Timber Ridge or getting involved, please visit our website: timberridgeschool.org.