 David D. Henry was the third president of Wayne University. Henry had come to Wayne University in 1936 as professor of English and assistant to the executive vice president of the University. He was executive vice president when Detroit's Board of Education appointed him president after Warren E. Bow's death in 1945.
Henry led the university through a period of explosive growth and laid the foundation for its establishment as a state university. Returning veterans caused a tremendous post-war surge in enrollment. By 1952, Wayne University had over 22,000 students and it was desperate for classroom and office space. Henry convinced the Michigan State Legislature to provide funds for veteran's education, and to give the university capital funds which enabled construction of the first new buildings in its history: State Hall in 1948 and Science Hall in 1949. During this era, tuition residency was enlarged to include all Michigan residents and Wayne University was on the path to becoming a state university.
Henry resigned from Wayne in 1952 to take the position of executive vice chancellor at New York University. He later served as president of the University of Illinois.
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