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View a eulogy for Harold A. Jenkins, USMA '65, who passed away on September 26, 2020.

Harold A. Jenkins

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Steve Clement on October 5, 2020:

Danielle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Hal Jenkins. He and Laverne were dear friends and we shall miss him greatly. Hal and I shared many experiences over the years, first on the track team, later at graduate school at Purdue University, then back again at West Point where he was a TAC and we were in the Leadership and Psychology Department (MP&L) and finally at Ft. Leavenworth after retirement when we were both working as consultants. At West Point Hal was the Captain of the track team our senior year and he provided awesome leadership to all team member but especially to the underclassman. I remember many trips with Hal where we struggled mightily to win our events and to win the meet. We were always successful in beating Navy and Hal was always instrumental in those meets. Many of those meets went down to the wire- the final event the mile relay. We always seemed to be behind when we handed the baton off to Hal as the anchor leg and he always came through in the clutch. His grit and determination drove him to victory many times. I also remember those trips to the Heptagonals where we encountered all of the Ivy League schools. One time in particular Hal was matched up with an Olympic champion in the 600 meter run. Undaunted, Hal ran his heart out in that meet and fared extremely well against world class competition. Hal did not enter West Point as a high school all American in the quarter mile but he became one in just a few years through sheer determination, hard work and perseverance. We spent many an evening at Coach Crowell's house reminiscing about the days meet or planning for the next one. When we got back to West Point on the faculty, we continued to work with the Crowell's and the track team. Saturdays were our time to go to Shea stadium or the field house in the winter. After graduation, I went to Hal's home in South Carolina to meet his great family and he later came to visit me in Michigan. We shared so many good memories over the years.
Hal set many records at West Point but perhaps the most important record was the one he set with all of us as a classmate, teammate and close friend who we could always count on. We shall miss Hal dearly, our prayers go out to Laverne , Cheryl and Hal III. Be thou at peace.

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