William Calvin Jenkins
From the Arizona Republic:
Ex-Mayor to Receive Drinkwater Award
November 16, 2002
A Navy captain who originally planned on a career with the FBI and who eventually served the residents of Scottsdale 14 years, eight as city councilman and six as mayor, is being honored with the Wells Fargo Drinkwater Leadership Award for 2002. Former Mayor William C. Jenkins has exhibited exemplary leadership and community service the past 36 years, much like the late Mayor Herb Drinkwater, for whom the award is named. Jenkins, 73, will be honored Dec. 13
Online photo site pays tribute to late Mayor Bill Jenkins
July 23, 2008
Online photo site pays tribute to late Mayor Bill Jenkins
Late Mayor William C. “Bill” Jenkins guided Scottsdale through an era of rapid growth, innovation and challenging economic times.
His tenure and community service are commemorated through a photo collection now available on the city of Scottsdale’s Web site at http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/education/mayorjenkins
Mayor Jenkins passed away July 2 at age 79. He served as Scottsdale Mayor from 1974 to 1980 and as a City Council member from 1966 to 1974. During his tenure, Mayor Jenkins also taught social Studies at Scottsdale High School -- just a short walk north from City Hall.
The online photo collection illustrates some of the milestones achieved by Scottsdale during Mayor Jenkins’ time in office.
He’s seen at the groundbreaking for a project on today’s Civic Center Mall and posing with singer Roger Miller, a performer at the 1975 grand opening of the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.
In 1978, Mike Wallace and the crew from CBS' 60 Minutes interviewed Mayor Jenkins for a segment on the benefits of Scottsdale’s fire protection contract with the Rural/Metro Corp.
While Mayor Jenkins was helping lead Scottsdale to national prominence, he also worked to preserve the community’s Western roots. The Web photo collection captures that side.
He’s seen laying blocks for the McDowell Exhibition Plaza along the Indian Bend Wash and being fitted for a cowboy hat with local retailer Dick Saba.
A celebration of Mayor Jenkins’ life will take place at 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ, 4425 N. Granite Reef Road.
Bill Jenkins was sworn in as Scottsdale Mayor on July 18, 1974. He served until 1980. He also served on the Scottsdale City Council from 1966 to 1974.
The 1974 Scottsdale City Council was comprised of (pictured in the image "Scottsdale City Council 1974" from left to right) Herb Drinkwater (who would later serve four terms as mayor), Paul Messinger; Heinz Hink, Mayor Bill Jenkins, Billie Gentry, Dick Campana and Charlie Smith.
Mayor Jenkins guided Scottsdale through an era of rapid growth and challenging economic times. Here he can be seen participating in the groundbreaking for a project on what is today the Civic Center Mall.
During Mayor Jenkins' tenure, the Scottsdale Center for the Arts opened. Here he poses with singer Roger Miller, one of the performers at the October 1975 grand opening.
Scottsdale garnered national attention for its innovation under Mayor Jenkins' leadership. In 1978, Mike Wallace and the crew from CBS' 60 Minutes interviewed Mayor Jenkins for a segment on the cost and administrative benefits of the city's fire protection contract with the Rural/Metro Corp.
Jenkins’ life profiled on city Web site
Scottsdale residents may view a photo collection commemorating the life of the late former Mayor William C. “Bill” Jenkins posted on the city’s Web site, http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/education/mayorjenkins
Jenkins, 79, who died July 2, served as mayor from 1974 to 1980 and as a City Council member from 1966 to 1974. He was a retired social studies teacher who taught at the former Scottsdale High School.
City spokesman Mike Phillips said in a statement that the online collection illustrates many city events during Jenkins’ tenure, including:
Jenkins at the groundbreaking for Scottsdale Civic Center Mall.
Jenkins with singer Roger (“King of the Road”) Miller at the inaugural performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.
Former Scottsdale Mayor Bill Jenkins dies
Mark Scarp, Tribune
William C. Jenkins, who was mayor of Scottsdale from 1974 to 1980, has died, City Clerk Carolyn Jagger said today.
Jagger said Jenkins died Tuesday. The retired Scottsdale High School history teacher had been diagnosed with cancer in recent years, former City Councilwoman Diane Cusack said today. Cusack served on the council from 1978 to 1986.
Jenkins, known for his quiet manner, usually avoided the spotlight, a contrast to the two more high-profile men who served as mayor before and after him, B.L. “Bud” Tims and Herb Drinkwater.
Jagger said Jenkins, a city councilman first elected in 1966, was appointed mayor in 1974 when Tims resigned to take a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission. Jenkins was elected to a full four-year term in 1976.
“It was a real pleasure to serve with Bill Jenkins. He was a perfect gentleman all the time,” Cusack recalled of his easygoing manner. “His was a calm hand on the rudder.”
Services are pending. Messinger Mortuary, Scottsdale, is handling arrangements.