Next weekend at this time, Tom Henschel will be in Las Vegas.

The Cabot resident, now 82, has never missed being in attendance at the Super Bowl. From the first one — Kansas City vs. Green Bay — when the game wasn’t even dubbed the Super Bowl yet, until now, Henschel has been there.

People who follow his story know that.

But few people know what this man is actually like.

Through the years, I’ve done a story on Henschel extending what has become known as the “Super Streak.” During that time, I’ve gotten the chance to get to know him a little bit.

He is not some rich guy who treats the Super Bowl as some sort of cute hobby, to go there just to be seen.

Henschel lives by modest means. He worked for an airlines that dissolved when he was 50. He saves his money all year to be able to attend the Super Bowl — sure, partly because he is one of only three people to have attended all 57 of them so far — but more because of his love for football.

He attended Har-Brack High School and was always a high school football fan and die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. A bit of his heart is broken each time the Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs or don’t qualify for postseason play.

At every Super Bowl, Henschel can be found wearing Steelers gear. He does so out of respect for Steeler Nation and to honor the franchise’s Super Bowl history.

Over the years, Henschel has taken virtually every family member, including nieces and nephews, to a Super Bowl game. He’s taken friends along as well.

This streak may never have started had he not been talking to some Chicago Bears players in a bar when he was working in Chicago. They hooked him up with tickets to the first Super Bowl and he was on his way.

For some reason, he thought to save the ticket stub from that first one. He’s saved the ticket stub for every one since.

By his own admittance, Henschel’s health isn’t the best these days,. He has some difficulty walking and slurs his words a bit. But he’s always been a fun-loving guy and that hasn’t changed.

He plans to stay in Las Vegas for a couple of days after the game because “I like to gamble,” he said.

This guy doesn’t seek attention. He just loves meeting and talking to people. Football and the Super Bowl games through the years just happen to be his favorite subject.

I have no idea when Henschel’s Super Bowl streak will end. He anticipates that time to be soon.

Whenever it does, don’t feel bad for this man. He won’t feel bad for himself.

He’s relished this experience. He’s basked in it. He glows when anybody asks him about it.

We should all be that passionate about something.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle