SCTCCCA meets renamed Bob Jenkins' Coaches Classic

The South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Classic announced today going forward starting in 2013 cross country season all Coaches Classic meets will be renamed The Bob Jenkins' Coaches Classic.

Obituary at heraldonline.com



Update on today: Following the Community Fellowship Service the family will receive family and friends at West End Baptist Church until 6:30 p.m. and at Northwestern High School in the F-Gym from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

"This is an honor to a man, a father, a husband, a coach, and a friend who started our association and fought for what was best for our sport everyday of his life," SCTCCCA President Eric Cummings said in a statement. "Bob Jenkins was cross country and track & field in the state of South Carolina, and this is just a small token of what he did for the past runners/coaches, the current runners/coaches, and the future runners/coaches of The Palmetto State."


The association also donated to 'Step Up for Yellow Mountain' in honor of Bob Jenkins.

Complete release below

The South Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Governing Board (Eric Cummings-President; Ed Boehmke-Secertary/Treasure, Jeff Buys-4A VP, Michael Steward-3A VP, John Javis-2A VP, & Marie Kernell-1A VP) would like to announce that effective for the 2013-2014 Academic Year (and all future years), The SCTCCCA Coaches Classic Cross Country and Track & Field Meets will be renamed The Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic Cross Country Invitational and The Bob Jenkins Coaches Classic Track & Field Invitational. "This is an honor to a man, a father, a husband, a coach, and a friend who started our association and fought for what was best for our sport everyday of his life! Bob Jenkins was cross country and track & field in the state of SC, and this is just a small token of what he did for the past runners/coaches, the current runners/coaches, and the future runners/coaches of The Palmetto State!" Eric Cummings-SCTCCCA President.

The SCTCCCA has also made a donation to 'Step Up for Yellow Mountain' in honor of Bob Jenkins.

Bob requested that all memorials be sent to: Step Up for Yellow Mountain
                                                                 c/o Yellow Mountain Enterprises
                                                                 PO Box 548
                                                                 255 Estatoa Street
                                                                 Newland, NC 28657
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Coach Robert Thomas “Bob” Jenkins - 79
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Monday, April 29, 2013
Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, SC
Died peacefully in his sleep

Born
July 17th, 1933
New York, New York

Parents
Robert Milo Jenkins and Mary Gattis Holland Nefzger

Married
Margaret Mallette Henderson Jenkins
Atlanta Georgia
August 30th, 1958

Education
Fork Union Military Academy
Virginia

University of South Carolina
BA in Education, 1957
Physical Education major

Winthrop College
MA in Education, 1970
Guidance and Counseling

Designation/Awards

Bob Jenkins, a two-time national coach of the year, started track and cross country programs at five different high schools.

As of 2005, Jenkins had an overall record of 1021-185 (.847) as of 2005 and had coached seven state championship teams. His longest tenure was at Northwestern High School, where he coached from 1971-95. While there, Jenkins was a 14-time regional Track Coach of the Year, ten-time regional Cross Country Coach of the Year, six-time South Carolina Track Coach of the Year, four-time South Carolina Cross Country Coach of the year, National Track Coach of the Year, and National Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Jenkins spearheaded the development of cross country in the state of South Carolina, founding the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Association. In recognition of his achievements and contributions, he was selected as a National Team Coach in 1981 and 1982, and in 1997 and 1998, he coached on the U.S. Olympic Development Team.

He retired in 1995 but never strayed far from the track, continuing to serve as a frequent contributor at Northwestern High. He is a member of the York County Hall of Fame and was a charter inductee into the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Jenkins came out of retirement in 2005 for yet another coaching challenge to start the cross country and track & field programs at South Pointe High School. While he retired again in 2009, he continued to be a presence on and off the track.

Region Track Coach of the Year

1973 – 75, 1977 – 1981, 1983, 1986 – 1989, 1991 – 1995



Region Cross Country Coach of the Year

1973 – 1980, 1990 – 1994



South Carolina Track Coach of the Year

1973 – 1976, 1983, 1986



South Carolina Cross Country Coach of the Year

1973 – 1974, 1976 – 1977



National High School Athletic Coaches Association District 3 Coach of the Year

1974 (Track), 1976 (Track), 1978 (Cross Country)



National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Track Coach of the Year

1976



National High School Athletic Coaches Association

National Cross Country Coach of the Year

1978



Team South Coaching Staff Men’s Track & Field Team

TAC/USA Olympic Sports Festival

1981



USA National Team Coach

June 1982 – London, England – USA vs. England, Sweden and Australia



Shrine Bowl Run Assistant Coach

1988



Shrine Bowl Run Head Coach

1989



*United States Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame

       * First high school Track Coach to be inducted into USTCA that is

       the governing body for Track & Field in the US

1996



York County Hall of Fame



Northwestern Hall of Fame



Golden South Track Classic Hall of Fame



SC Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame



South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Charter Member 1993

Employment

Fishburne Military Academy
1957– 1959
Assistant Football Coach; Head Basketball and Track & CC Coach;
History Instructor

1959 – 1961

Athletic Director; Head Football, Basketball, Track & CC Coach



Carlisle Military School
1961– 1965
Athletic Director; Head Football and Track & CC Coach; Instructor
of History, Science, English, and Algebra


York High School
1965– 1968
Athletic Director; Assistant Principal; Head Football, Track  & CC Coach


Rock Hill High School
1968– 1971
Head Coach Track & CC; Assistant Football Coach; Instructor of
Physical Education and Mathematics


Northwestern High School
1971– 1974
Head Coach Track & CC; Assistant Football Coach; Counselor
1974– 1995
Head Coach Track & CC; Counselor

South Pointe High School
2005-2009
Head Coach Track & CC

Family
Survived by his wife of 54 years Margaret Henderson Jenkins
Daughter Mary Mallette Jenkins Wood, husband Kevin Wood, grandsons George Henderson and Robert Andrew Wood of Rock Hill, SC.
Daughter Margaret Keller “Meg” Jenkins Locke, husband Ron Locke, grandsons William Jenkins, Robert Keller and granddaughter Margaret Mallette Locke of Hickory, NC

Sister –in-law Keller Henderson Barron, husband Bill Barron of Columbia, SC
Nephews Lewis, George, Charles Bumgardner and families
Niece Margaret Anne Bumgardner DuBose and family
His lifelong family of administrators, coaches, athletes and all those he loves and love Coach.

A private family Liturgy will be held at Our Savoir Episcopal Church, Rock Hill, SC on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013.
A Community Worship Service celebrating Coach Jenkins’ life will be held at West End Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC at 4:00pm Thursday, May 2nd, 2013.
The family will receive friends after the Coach Jenkins’ life celebration.

Greene Funeral Home Northwest is in charge of the services.

Memorials may be made to Step Up for Yellow Mountain c/o Yellow Mountain Enterprises PO Box 548, 255 Estatoa Street, Newland, NC 28657.