AT 14, Brett Henley came home from school expecting a normal afternoon. Instead, his father greeted him with a surprise.
“You’ve got a job,” he said.
Fifteen minutes later, Henley walked into the 41 Drive-In and dove straight into taking orders, mopping floors, wiping counters — doing whatever needed to be done. One year later, he moved on to Powers Market, a small grocery store where he bagged groceries for neighbors, teachers, and everyone who knew him around town. This taught him to take pride in his work.
Those first jobs showed Henley what it meant to show up, pay attention, and tend to the small things that made a difference. Every scrape, every spill, every awkward first day left its mark and influenced who he is today.
“It taught me responsibility, work ethic, and the importance of doing every job well, no matter what it was,” Henley said.
SERVICE AT EVERY ALTITUDE
Today, Henley is a businessman and co-owner of Henley Propane Inc., a pilot, flight instructor, and community leader. But titles don’t capture the essence of his life. At every altitude, whether in the cockpit or in the community, his focus remains the same — showing up, doing the work, and taking care of people with his son-in-law and Henley Propane Inc. co-owner Garrett Sager.
“I’ve always believed that if you take care of people in a business environment, the business will take care of itself,” he said. “Relationships matter more than transactions. And trust is something you build over time and protect every day.”
That consistency earned Henley leadership roles in nearly every arena he entered.
SKY-HIGH DREAMS
Henley knew he wanted to fly from an early age. The interest started on a flight with his grandmother. A flight attendant noticed his curiosity and asked if he wanted to see the cockpit. Soon, he was sitting up front, hands on the controls, gently turning the plane under the pilot’s watch.
For a while, it seemed that the dream might lead through the Air Force. But in college, he learned he was colorblind — a trait passed down from his grandfather — which kept him from flying in the military. It was a hard turn, but it didn’t take the dream away.
CHANGING COURSE
Years later, with a family to support, Henley found another way. He began building spec houses, learning as he went, taking risks, and slowly saving for aviation training.
This eventually led him back to aviation. He pursued instructor certifications. Though they were more challenging than expected, he eventually earned private pilot, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine certifications.
Since then, he’s taught 28 people how to fly, including his daughter, son, and his first student — his younger sister. Not long ago, he reached another milestone — earning his Airline Transport Pilot certification, the highest level a pilot can achieve.
“I’m probably more proud of that than anything I’ve accomplished in my life in aviation. It took a lot of time and effort to do that,” he said.
“Flying takes a level of discipline, preparation, and situational awareness that is beyond anything I’ve ever tried to learn before.” It is a great tool to prepare for the daily challenges life hands out.
GROUNDED IN SERVICE
Aviation shaped him, but Henley’s impact on the ground proves just as meaningful. In 2009, he ran for the Coffee County School Board, believing he could make a difference. He served more than 12 years, first as chairman of the local board, and then as president of the Tennessee School Boards Association in 2021.
Throughout his tenure, one issue remained close to his heart.
“One area that stood out to me was bullying,” he said, recalling an incident involving a student his son’s age. “Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and respected.”
Henley worked to strengthen policies and awareness around student well-being, emphasizing that education isn’t just about systems, but about people.
One initiative he helped implement was the student ambassador program, giving students a voice that might otherwise go unheard in board discussions.
IMPACT OVER ACCOLADES
Henley resists recognition as a goal. He measures success by the impact he makes, the relationships he nurtures, and the legacy he’s building at home and in the community.
He and his wife, Martha, have built their lives in Coffee County, where their family gathers, and their grandsons spend hours outdoors, throwing rocks in the creek and simply being kids. Those moments, he said, bring everything into focus.
At the end of the day, what matters most to Henley isn’t titles or accolades. It is making a difference in the lives of those around him. “If I’ve helped to make things better for my family, my community, and the people around me, then I’ve considered the life I’ve had a life well-lived.” GN
