Established by the board of directors of the college alumni chapter in 1995, the Hall of Fame Award recognizes alumni for exemplary achievement. It is the highest honor the college confers. The award is presented each year to a graduate of the ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who has achieved professional distinction and made significant community service contributions at the local, national and/or international level.
The Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes citizens of Arizona, alumni of Arizona State University and others who contribute to the advancement and development of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
2007 Distinguished Achievement Award
William
C. “Bill” Jenkins, a former history teacher, mayor and U.S. naval officer,
is a founding director of the Helios Education Foundation, a nonprofit
organization that creates opportunities for success in postsecondary education.
Jenkins, who graduated from Arizona State University in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and in 1963 with a master’s degree in history, was instrumental in the establishment of two history education resources at ASU: the Helios Education Foundation/William C. Jenkins History Education Endowment and the Helios Education Foundation/William C. Jenkins History Operations Fund. These resources are used by the department of history to ensure effective programming for teaching history at the secondary level.
Jenkins spent more than 25 years in the Scottsdale Unified School District teaching American history, Arizona history, American government and economics.
From 1966 to 1974, Jenkins served on the Scottsdale City Council and from 1974 to 1980 was the city’s mayor.
A retired captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Jenkins is a member of the Naval Order of the United States. He also is a member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Historical Society, Kiwanis Club of Scottsdale McCormick and Scottsdale Preserve Authority
http://www.asu.edu/clas/history/teaching/funding.html
Helios Education Foundation/William C. Jenkins History Fund
In
2005, the Arizona State University Department of History was awarded a generous
gift from the Helios Education
Foundation. William C. Jenkins, a Helios Foundation Board member, Scottsdale
history teacher for 25 years, a retired naval officer, and former Scottsdale
mayor chose to give the gift of $175,000 (dispersed over a four-year period) to
his alma mater to help improve the teaching of history at the secondary level.
Beginning fall 2005, the Department of History began to use the funds to educate
students in the History Methods courses. His wife, Sue, also attended Arizona
State University from 1948-1950. Her maiden name was Grace S. Liebenow.
http://www.helios.org/about-us/board-and-staff.aspx#jenkins
William C. Jenkins
Retired Teacher, Scottsdale Public Schools
Mr. Jenkins was Executive Director of the Greater Scottsdale Transportation Management Association from 1990-1995. He taught American and Arizona History, American Government and Economics, in the Scottsdale, Arizona school system from 1958-1987. He is a retired Captain in the United Sates Navy Reserve, and served on active duty from 1953 to 1957. He also was a councilman for the City of Scottsdale from 1966 to 1974, and mayor from 1974 to 1980. Mr. Jenkins is a past president and treasurer of the Scottsdale Historical Society, a member of the Arizona Historical Society, a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and a member of the Naval Order of the United States. He also has been a member of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation from 1991 to the present, and served as president of the Grand Canyon Chapter of that Foundation. Mr. Jenkins volunteers one day a week in the Retired Activities Office of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Phoenix, Arizona and is a board member for the Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts degree in History from Arizona State University, and completed additional graduate work in history at ASU and the University of Montana.
http://www.legacy.com/EastValleyTribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=112865634
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William Calvin Jenkins |
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William Calvin Jenkins, age 79, passed away on July 2, 2008. Bill was born
in Kansas City, Kansas on May 4, 1929 to Albert and Ruth Jenkins. He
attended the public schools in Kansas City, Kansas and graduated from the
Kansas City, Kansas Community College. Coming west in the summer of 1948,
he worked at the Grand Canyon National park where he later met his wife,
Sue. They were married on August 26, 1950 in Sue's hometown, Cummington,
MA. After their marriage, Bill and Sue returned for good to Arizona where
he attended Arizona State University earning a Bachelor's Degree in
Accounting in 1952, followed by a Master of Arts degree in History, 1963.
During 1995 and 1996, while they were residing in Missoula, Montana, Bill
took additional graduate work at the University of Montana. During and
immediately after the Korean War, Bill served four years on active duty in
the Navy. He retired from the Navy Reserve in 1975 with a rank of Captain.
For 25 yrs, Bill taught at Scottsdale High School, and after its closure,
he taught four years at Saguaro High School before retiring in 1987. At
both schools he taught in the Social Sciences department and was the
Student Government Advisor. He served in many community and national
organizations over the years. From 1966 to 1974 he served as a Scottsdale
City Councilman and as Mayor of Scottsdale from 1974 to 1980. In the late
1980s, Bill served on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Student
Services Corporation. Following that, he served as a founding Director of
the Helios Education Foundation, Southwest's successor organization in
2004. Bill was past president of the Scottsdale Historical Society, the
Grand Canyon Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.,
the Scottsdale McCormick Kiwanis Club, and the City of Scottsdale
Municipal Property Corporation and Preserve Authority. He was a co-founder
of the Scottsdale Sister City program. More recently, he served on the
Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation.
From 1994 to 1999 he was Executive Director of the Greater Scottsdale
Transportation Management Association. Bill was a Charter member of the
Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ and a past Moderator. As
a City Councilman, Bill was instrumental in the establishment of the
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. During his time as Mayor, Bill
directed the City Council's early effort to begin the acquisition of land
in the McDowell Mountains, which years later, became known as the
Scottsdale Sonoran Desert Preserve. He was a recent honoree of the Arizona
Culturekeepers. Shortly thereafter, he received the Distinguished Service
Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State
University. As a historian, Bill lectured and wrote numerous articles on
the history of Scottsdale. His love for Scottsdale through the years moved
him to continue to serve the community until his death. He is survived by
his wife, Sue of 58 years and two children, Deborah Sue Pirong (Jim) of
Phoenix and Mark Ethan Jenkins (Gaye) of Buena Vista, CO and many nieces
and nephews. A brother, Lyle, preceded Bill in death. A private family
burial will be held at Green Acres Memorial Cemetery followed by a
Celebration of Life at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ,
4425 North Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at
11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that contributions
be made to the Scottsdale Congregational UCC Endowment Fund, 4425 N.
Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale, 85251, the Scottsdale Historical Society,
P.O. Box 143, Scottsdale 85252 or the Scottsdale Unified School District
Foundation, P.O. Box 12787, Scottsdale 85267-2787. Arrangements are being
handled by Messinger Indian School Mortuary. Sign the Guest Book at
eastvalleytribune.com
July 2, 2008 - 11:02PM
Scarp: Scottsdale loses one of its finest citizens
Mark Scarp, Tribune Columnist
It sometimes happens in journalism. You call a contemporary of a notable person who has just died in search of a few recollections. Usually that contemporary is someone just as notable.
The story is published. Then, a short time later, the contemporary dies, and the only thing you can think of is that you were glad to have spent those few short minutes on the phone with him.
William C. “Bill” Jenkins, who was mayor of Scottsdale from 1974 to 1980, died early Wednesday. He was 79.
I had just spoken with him June 16 to get his comments on the death of former Scottsdale police Chief Michael Gannon, who died at 85. The yellow pad with my notes from our conversation is still on my desk.
Jenkins sounded quite energetic during our talk. On Wednesday, though, I learned from former City Councilwoman Diane Cusack that the retired Scottsdale High School social studies teacher had been diagnosed with cancer. So the sound of a voice can be deceiving. Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble said Wednesday that a few weeks ago he attended a birthday party at McCormick Ranch Golf Club for the former mayor that Trimble described as more of a goodbye. “We knew we were going to lose him, and he didn’t look good at all,” said Trimble, who served on several boards with Jenkins, including that of the Scottsdale Historical Society. At that party, Trimble said he sat next to Jenkins and shared many memories.
“He set a good example to his students by his community service,” said Trimble, who is also director of Southwest studies at Scottsdale Community College. “Sometimes teachers just talk the talk in front of a class, but Bill always walked the walk. I always respected him for that. He showed those students of his that you get out there and serve your community.” Jenkins 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. A city councilman first elected in 1966, Jenkins 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. Evelyn Caskey, who was principal at Scottsdale High School from 1974 to 1983, called him a fantastic teacher with unparalleled ethics.
“When he became mayor some people worried about would he be out of class,” Caskey said Wednesday. “But anytime he took a day off — which was not that often because most meetings were held at night and the city manager really runs (the city) — he would not take any pay from the district. To me, that is just the epitome of the kind of person Bill Jenkins was. So ethical, so honest.” Cusack, who served on the council from 1978 to 1986, recalled serving with Jenkins a real pleasure. “He was a perfect gentleman all the time,” Cusack said. “His was a calm hand on the rudder.”
Former Mayor Kathryn “Sam” Campana left me a voice message from Ireland, where she is attending her son’s wedding. In it, she said her close friend and mentor was a teacher first, but the service he did for his community over 35 years was something she hopes people remember most. “There are probably 150,000 people who reside in Scottsdale today who don’t remember who Bill was when he was city councilman and mayor,” said Campana, who was mayor from 1996 to 2000. “But they are all beneficiaries of what Bill did for the city and its people.”
Former City Councilman and state Rep. Paul Messinger, R-Ariz., recalled a 49-year friendship that began when both men served on church committees.
In 1959, Messinger offered his Scottsdale mortuary chapel as a meeting place for Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ for its first 28 months of existence until it moved into its own facility.
The two later served on the City Council, and after Jenkins, a Democrat, lost to Messinger, a Republican, in a race for a seat in the state Legislature, Messinger said he made good on a bet that the winner and his wife would buy steak dinners at Camelback Inn for the loser and his wife.
“I can’t ever remember a greater guy I’d love to discuss things with, and a guy who made a lot of great sense,” Messinger said. “He was a class guy.” Services are tentatively set for Aug. 16 at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ, 4425 N. Granite Reef Road. A spokeswoman for Messinger Mortuary, which is handling arrangements, said Wednesday more details will be announced today .
In a statement issued Wednesday, Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross recalled how Jenkins was a textbook example of a great citizen. “If you want to find out how to make a deep, positive, lasting contribution to your community, learn about the life of Bill Jenkins,” she said. “Scottsdale was a better place because of him,” Trimble said. And I had the chance to speak with him once more. After a day of hearing such tributes as those above, for that, I’m grateful.
Bill Jenkins' career highlights
• Retired captain in the U.S.
Navy Reserve after serving active duty from 1953 to 1957. Member of the Naval
Order of the United States. Board member of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage
Foundation, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Kiwanis Club of
Scottsdale McCormick and Scottsdale Preserve Authority.
• Bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 1952 and a master’s degree in history in 1963, both from Arizona State University. Taught Arizona and American history and American government and economics in the Scottsdale Unified School District for 29 years.
• Founding director of the Helios Education Foundation, a nonprofit group that assists high school students.
• In 2007, received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Honored the same year by the Arizona Historical Foundation and Trimble as among 10 Arizona residents receiving the 2007 Arizona Culturekeepers Award.
• Named to the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 1996. Chairman of Scottsdale Leadership in 1990. In 2002, received the Wells Fargo Herbert R. Drinkwater Leadership Award.
SOURCES: Arizona State University College of Arts and Sciences, the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and the Helios Education Foundation Web sites