On August 24, 1982, the Henderson Institute Graduates and Former Students Association, Inc. was incorporated by the State of North Carolina as a nonprofit with 11 board members. Henrietta Hatton Clark became the first chairperson of the board and served in the capacity for over 13 years, until 1998. Other chartered members included Elizabeth Wilson (Secretary), Allen S Brown (Treasurer), James P. Green, O.T. Robinson, Raynah Adams II, Randolph T. Baskerville, Arthur Williams, Leslie Davis, Ralph Glover, and Johnny Johnson.