Leo Jenkins is Third Man to "Move Up"
This article describes career and biographical history of newly-elected East Carolina president Dr. Leo W. Jenkins. This and other articles may be found in the records of the Chancellor's Office, Record Group CH1050, Series 1, Scrapbook File, 1914-1978 in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: "Jenkins is Third Man to “Move Up”" The Daily Reflector. Greenville, N.C. January 5, 1960.
Dr. Leo Warren Jenkins, the new president of East Carolina College, has been dean of the college for the past 12 years and vice president since 1955.
Today he became the sixth president of the college in the 51-year history of the institution.He also became the third man to move into the president’s chair from another position on the East Carolina faculty.
Dr. Robert H. Wright, the first president of the institution, held the position from 1909 until his death in 1934.He was succeeded by Dr. Leon Meadows who was president from 1934 until 1944. Dr. Howard J. McGinnis was acting president of the college for a two year period from 1944 to 1946 when Dr. Dennis H. Cooke was named president. Dr. Cooke held the position only one year before resigning and was succeeded by Dr. John R. Messick who has served as president of the institution for the past 12 years.
Of the men who have been president at East Carolina, only Meadows, McGinnis and Jenkins were members of the college’s faculty before becoming president.
A native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, President Jenkins came to East Carolina in 1947 as dean of the college at the time Dr. Messick became president.Immediately prior to accepting the position at East Carolina he had served for a year as assistant to the commissioner for higher education of the New Jersey department of education. Previously he had been a professor of political science and history at Montclair Teachers College in New Jersey.
Dr. Jenkins attended Rutgers University where he received his B.S. degree.He received his M.A. degree at Columbia University and his degree of doctor of education at New York University.He also did graduate study at Duke University in 1946.
The 46-year-old new president of ECC began his career in education as a public school teacher in New Jersey and later served as dean of Somerville High School in that state.
During World War II he served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps. Seeing action on Guadacanal, Guam and Iwo Jima.He holds the Bronze Star and two Presidential Citations for his military record.
Dr. Jenkins has held numerous positions with education groups and associations including membership of the executive committee of the North Carolina College Conference: a member of the cooperative of the State Board of Higher Education; one of three members in North Carolina of the Southern Council on Teacher Education; State Chairman of Education for the N.C. Parent-Teacher association; State Chairman of the division of higher education of the N.C. Education Association; Chairman of the committee on elementary education of the State Advisory Council on Education; a member of college visitation teams, Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; and president of the N.C. association of academic deans.
He is the author of numerous articles on subjects of educational interest in journals and publications concerning the field of education.
Since coming to Greenville in 1947 he has been active in local affairs, having served three years as president of the Pitt County Red Cross chapter, two years as chairman of the Greenville recreation commission, president of the Kiwanis club, chairman of the Pitt County polio campaign, chairman of the recent hospital bond issue campaign and president of the North State Little League baseball.
A member of St. James Methodist Church, Dr. Jenkins is a member of the Boards if Stewards, a former lay leader, and Sunday school teacher.
Dr. Jenkins is married to the former Lillian Jacobsen of Lavelette, N.J.They have six children, James, Jeffrey, Jack, Suzanne, Patricia and Sallie Jean. The Jenkins make their home on Rutledge Road in Greenville.
