Posted by Tom Kehoe on February 12, 2010:

James R. "Jim" Jenkins, 75, Manitowoc, formerly of Green Bay, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, after a long battle with Myasthenia-Gravis cancer with his wife by his side. He was born Nov. 28, 1934, in Green Bay, to the late Roy and Irene (Hintz) Jenkins. Jim married Barb Bouffard on March 22, 1994, in Manitowoc. He enjoyed woodworking, including many woodworking projects over the years, such as building a doll house for his wife. His true love was his stamp collection, starting his hobby in the 3rd grade. He also enjoyed reading, puzzles and model trains. Perhaps his proudest achievements were earning the award of Eagle Scout and becoming an Assistant Scout Master. Upon graduation from West High School he won a competitive appointment to West Point. At the Academy, he was a Dean�s List Student and Photo Editor of the 1957 Howitzer. Graduating in 1957, Jim�s military career began with normal troop assignments in 82nd Airborne (82nd Signal Bn) followed by the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany. As a result of President Kennedy�s decision to emphasize the concept of special forces during the cold war, Jim became one of the first tech service officers to fill special forces vacancies created by the Kennedy expansion. He distinguished himself by building and operating powerful base radio communications facilities for communicating with special forces teams operating from clandestine locations. He was then assigned to the University of Arizona where he earned his Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering. At this time fellow students elected him to TAU BETA PI, the National Engineering Honorary Society. Although no one realized it at the time, advance skills in computer theory and programming were to become priceless commodities in the years to come as the Army struggled to implement this rapidly emerging technology. After a brief and uneventful tour with the Military Advisory Group (MAAG) in Vietnam Jim was ordered to return to West Point for his utilization tour. Out of all his experiences -- the one he spoke of most favorably and the one thing for which he�d like most to be remembered -- was that of returning to West Point as a member of the faculty. That occurred during the mid sixties when computer science was just becoming a part of any university�s curriculum and West Point was on the leading edge. Jim took great pride in noting that he was blessed with the ability to teach. With formal training in computer science, he was in the unique position of being at the right place, with the right skills, and the right training, at precisely the right time. When the USMA Academic Board committed to introduce the study of computers, Jim was one of a handful of faculty who were able to contribute. And respond he did. Because few texts on computers were available in those days, the Academy had to prepare its own. Jim conceived and authored two books and edited a third, all published by USMA for use as textbooks by Cadets. In addition he played a key role in conceiving, developing, and teaching two elective courses in computer aided decision making and computer programming. As these courses were highly acclaimed, leading edge instruction, he soon found himself offering them to staff and faculty as well. (Documented by letters of commendation by Professors G.A. Lincoln and John S.B. Dick). With the West Point teaching experience under his belt, he was uniquely qualified to advise the staff and faculty at the Army�s Command and General Staff College, where he introduced the C&GS Faculty to the advantages of automation by writing a series of computer programs to simulate the stochastic detonation of nuclear weapons for use during classroom map maneuver exercises. These programs reduced significantly the time required to compute nuclear effects manually (with dice). As a result the college�s map maneuvers were able to run many more instructive iterations in the time allocated. (Documented by letter from Major General J.H. Hay, Commandant). Having demonstrated his familiarity with this new technology, C&GS then called upon him to produce, as a student, a comprehensive study of what aspects of computer science should be taught at C&GS. His lengthy and detailed report served as the road map for the next several years as C&GS updated its curriculum. (Documented by 2nd letter from M.G. Hay). His next assignment was back in Vietnam in the Long Binh Depot where the Directorate for Data Processing was in dire straight, being unable to keep up with the heavy logistical demands of the combat forces in the field. As the Director, Jim was able to apply solid management techniques resulting in a 300% increase in the output of his data center directorate in nine months. (Documented by two letters from Major General Woolwine). Jim used to smile when he claimed to be the only officer in a combat zone to have been awarded both a Bronze Star and a Legion of Merit for accomplishments in data processing. With formal education, teaching experience and operating experience behind him, Jim was qualified for assignment to the Executive Office of the President where his assignment was requested by the Office of Telecommunications Policy. Jim arrived in the White House just in time to confront many of the problems wrought by the merger of computers and telecommunications during the 1970�s. Of significance, he played a key role in getting all the departments and agencies of the Executive Branch to agree to adopt a single set of compatible communications protocols. These communications standards avoided an electronic communications Tower of Babble and laid the groundwork for implementing future networks such as the world wide web. Jim entered industry as Vice President with the CONTEL, Corp., a telephone company. Building on his technical background and the standards he helped develop in the government, he built a state-of-the-art nationwide data communications network for CONTEL. During the mid 90�s, following the Gulf War, Jim worked with the West Point Society of Atlanta where he conducted executive seminars to help young officers who had been relieved from active duty, to find employment in industry. His seminars, aimed at getting a job interview, were based on his years of experience in industry. His advice on appearance, presentation, negotiations, things to say (and not say) were acknowledged as expert advice and appreciated by many younger members of the Long Gray Line. Later, after CONTEL became part of GTE, Jim accepted early retirement and became an independent consultant. Working independently on an International basis for Fortune 500 Companies and International consortia, he managed projects in fiber optics and large scale communications technical proposals in Saudi Arabia and Brazil as well as in the USA. Jim finally retired in 1997. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; four daughters and their spouses, Christina and Steven Porter, Atlanta, Ga.; Barbara and Jim Ryan, Fairfax Station, Va.; Liz and Kevin Houston, Atlanta, Ga.; Anne and Del Bern, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; one son, David Bouffard, Yosemite National Park; his grandchildren, Jennifer Ryan, Amanda Houston, Andrew and Maggie Bern; and one brother, Bill Jenkins. Burial was at Fort Howard Memorial Park. A memorial fund has been established to benefit Camp Bear Paw Boy Scout Camp, P.O. Box 267, Appleton, WI 54912 and Scholarships Incorporated, 333 Main St., Green Bay, WI 54301, designated to a West High School student.

admin