A memorial service will take place for Bill on October 26th, 2024 at 1:00pm at the Oxford Presbyterian Church (101 N Main St, Oxford, OH 45056)
William D. Jenkins (1937-2024)
William D. Jenkins (Bowling Green 1957) entered chapter eternal on September 23, 2024, following a long illness. “Mr. Bill” as he was affectionately known, was one of the most consequential leaders in Phi Kappa Tau and in the greater Greek community for more than half a century. Bill was a giant in the Greek world. No Phi Tau except Jack Anson, Colgate ’47 comes close to matching Bill’s influence on that community and its leaders.
Born and raised in Ravenna, Ohio November 9, 1937, near Cleveland, He enrolled in Bowling Green State University, majored in business, later changing his major to art and joined the marching band. He was invited to join Beta Tau Chapter and was initiated on January 18, 1957. He attended his first National Convention in Pasadena, California in 1958 where he met Founders Shideler and Borradaile, Roland Maxwell and other Phi Tau luminaries. At the time of his death, he held the record for having attended more conventions than any Phi Tau alive. This connection to the national fraternity inspired him to accept an offer to join the fraternity’s professional staff as a field secretary upon his graduation. National Secretary Richard J. Young retired shortly after Jenkins’ arrival on the staff and when the assistant secretary, Jack Anson was not immediately appointed to replace Dick Young, Bill was appointed acting national secretary.
Jenkins with Founder Borradaile
By the time Anson returned to the staff as National Secretary, Bill had been drafted and was away in the service, returning in 1964 and quickly becoming Anson’s assistant and right-hand man. He remained in that position until 1970 when Anson left to become the Executive Director of the National Interfraternity Conference, now North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), as it was then known and he assumed the recently re-named role as Executive Director of Phi Kappa Tau. His time in that position was challenging. In the tumultuous years of the 1970s, the popularity of fraternities waned. Chapters closed. Others defaulted on loans and revenues to support fraternity operations dwindled. After the better part of two decades on the Phi Tau staff, Bill left in 1978 to work for Compolith Graphics in Indianapolis which served the Greek community. As a well-known leader in the Greek world, Bill soon joined the fund-raising firm of Development Dynamics Group in St. Louis. At DDG, he provided sage fundraising counsel to a long list of fraternity and sorority clients and his unique style of writing fund raising letters raised millions of dollars for his clients, mentoring countless development professionals along the way.
Jenkins at his desk at the Executive Offices
Bill left DDG for the opportunity to serve his alma mater as the assistant vice president and director of development at Bowling Green State University. He enjoyed the chance to serve Bowling Green but Phi Tau came calling and he returned to Oxford in 1991 to become executive director of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, the role that would be the capstone to his career. Bill greatly expanded the role of the Foundation, assuming responsibility for the Laurel and expanding the professional staff. He engaged heavily with the Fraternity’s new national philanthropy, now known as SeriousFun Children’s Network. He volunteered as a cabin counselor at SeriousFun camps and found it to be a life-changing experience, often tearing up as he described the interactions with the children he met at camp. Prior to his retirement in 2006, Bill assumed the role of Centennial Coordinator, taking on responsibility for the Centennial Garden fund raising and construction.
Always a leader in the interfraternity movement, Bill was appointed to fill the unexpired term on board of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) held by Walter G. “Sonny” Strange, Auburn ’70 who died in 1992. Bill was a distinguished member of the NIC board for a decade and was elected president, becoming the only Phi Tau since Roland Maxwell to hold that distinguished office. In 2005, he joined Roland Maxwell, Ewing Boles and Jack Anson to become the fourth Phi Tau to be awarded the NIC’s Gold Medal, its highest award. The NIC’s Foundation Section, now known as the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) annually awards the William D. Jenkins Outstanding Foundation Professional Award in Bill’s honor.
Jenkins (Center, Beige Coat) with several former Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices Staff Members.
In Phi Kappa Tau, Bill received every significant alumnus award given, including the Borradaile Alumnus Award and the Palm Award. He was among the inaugural class inducted into the Fraternity’s Hall of Fame at the Fraternity’s Centennial celebration in 2006 which he helped to orchestrate in grand style, memorably narrating a series of historical videos at the final banquet. The Fraternity’s award for Interfraternal Excellence is named for him. He is a recipient of the Jack L. Anson Award from the Association of Fraternity Advisors and the Distinguished Service Award from the Fraternity Executives Association. Numerous other Greek organizations have recognized Bill for his service to the interfraternity movement.
And while fraternity took up much of Bill’s life, he was far from one-dimensional. He was a passionate, life-long baseball fan. He particularly loved the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoyed his time in St. Louis where he was able to attend games. He collected baseballs, visited major league ballparks and vacationed around spring training when he could. His son Doug said that during Bill’s final days, he knew he was feeling a little better when he began to complain about the Cincinnati Reds payroll.
Jenkins volunteering at Camp Boggy Creek, a SeriousFun Children’s Network Camp
He was a devoted family man as well. He was married twice, his first marriage ending in divorce but producing his loving sons Chuck and Doug who was his primary caregiver in his last years. He met his second wife Carmalieta, a Delta Gamma executive, at ceremonies recognizing the bicentennial of the American College Fraternity at Williamsburg in December 1976. Bill and Carmalieta were married in December 1982 and were inseparable for the remainder of Carmalieta’s life. Bill was her devoted caregiver as her health declined and was her constant companion, even when she was forced to move into a care facility.
Bill devoted much his community leadership to the Oxford Kiwanis Club, which he first joined in 1964 and served as its president in 1971. He rejoined the club on his return to Oxford in 1991 and faithfully attended meetings and activities as long as his health permitted. He also became known in his retirement years as Santa, even growing his own white beard to add to the authenticity. He appeared throughout the Oxford and Hamilton communities, delighting children and adults. He became a fixture at the annual Phi Tau Christmas office party.
Bill always had an creative and artistic flair which was reflected in his use of language, attention to detail, his distinctive handwriting and lower-case signature and his eye for graphic design. In retirement, he turned his attention to drawing and painting, often making gifts of his artwork and offering them charity auctions and sales.
To his legions of friends, Bill will be remembered for his meticulous and natty appearance, his warmth, his humanity, his good stories, thoughtful notes and his bad jokes.
And perhaps the most lasting legacy to Bill in Phi Kappa Tau will be our cherished Candlelight Ceremony. Penned by Bill for the closing banquet of the 1975 National Convention, Honored Founder Taylor Borradaile’s last Convention, the ceremony has been conducted hundreds of times as a moving capstone to national and chapter events. Bill loved to tailor the ceremony to each event where he conducted it but finally agreed on a standard version which has been included as one of the Fraternity’s public Rituals. A fitting end to each Candlelight Ceremony and to Bill’s memory are the words from the Brotherhood Song “We’ll meet again in heaven, sure, in the name of Phi Kappa Tau.”
