Warren Henninger, founder of Ag World Support Systems, dies after fall

Warren Henninger, founder and chairman of Ag World Support Systems and longtime member of the potato industry, died May 23, eight days after a fall at his home in Moses Lake, Washington.

Bryan Henninger, son of Warren and his surviving wife, Judy, and president and CEO of the company, made a statement via email May 24.

“It is with both great sadness and rejoicing that I need to let you know that last night at 11:45 p.m. Warren Henninger (my dad) joined his Savior in Heaven after being in a coma for a week. All your prayers and thoughts have helped carry Warren and the family through this week. Thank you for continuing to carry the family, especially Judy (my mom), in your thoughts and prayers over the next few difficult weeks. Dad will be sorely missed.”

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Henninger founded Ag World Support Systems as a third-party inspection service in 1997. Previously, he had spent 21 years with a potato processing company, according to the company’s website.

The company first worked with Simplot at its Hermiston, Oregon facility and later expanded to facilities beyond the Columbia Basin to Canada, North Dakota, Maine and Wisconsin and eventually China, working with Simplot, McCain, Lamb Weston and others along the way.

In 2014, Henninger started a golf fundraiser — the Ag World Golf Classic — to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. To date, it has contributed more than $425,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, including a record $101,680 last year. The event is expanding to two dates in 2020, one in Kennewick on Aug. 11 and a second in Moses Lake two days later.

Although Ag World Support Systems has grown in size, it has been very much a family-run business. In addition to Bryan Henninger serving as president and CEO, Judy Henninger is the administrative executive and Melanie Finch, daughter of Warren and Judy, serves as senior communications manager and heads organizational development.