Bowling Green State University’s Army ROTC program celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ROTC and inducted a new member into its Hall of Fame Friday evening.
Retired Marine Corp Colonel Ted Jenkins, a graduate of BGSU who now lives in Toledo, became the first Marine to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jenkins, who attended the event with his wife Anne, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. After basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was assigned to an engineer battalion. Jenkins attained the rank of sergeant, and after WWII and the end of his enlistment, he transferred to the USMC Reserve. At this time he also entered BGSU under the WWII G.I. Bill.
When hostilities broke out in Korea, Jenkins was recalled to active duty in 1950 during his junior year at BGSU. He was commissioned from the ranks and served with the USMC Combat Engineers in Korea in 1951 and 1952.
After the Korean War, Jenkins returned to BGSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1954. After graduation, he worked for Libbey-Owens-Ford for 35 years and retired as the corporate director of human resources.
Ted Jenkins with ROTC Cadet Valerie Stearns.
Jenkins remained in the USMC Reserve and retired as a colonel in 1988. He served as the commanding officer of two Toledo Reserve units. During his service, he graduated from the USMC Command and Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Naval War College. Jenkins was a senior member of the 9th District Policy Board and the USMC Policy Board, reporting to the Secretary of the Navy.
Highlights of Jenkins’ community activities include eight years on the Oregon Board of Education; serving on boards for the Toledo Chamber of Commerce (chair of the Military Affairs Committee); United Way; Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts; chairing the Toledo Area YMCA and Eastern Community YMCA; chairing the St. Charles Hospital and Mercy Health Partners Board; serving on the first Swan Creek Board; and chairing the Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Board.
Jenkins’ BGSU activities began with his membership in the Theta Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa fraternities as a student. As an alumnus, he has chaired the BGSU Alumni Board of Trustees, was vice chair of the BGSU Alumni Foundation, and is a member of the Presidents Club. He was recipient of the Alumni Service Award in 1992 and the Alumni Community Award in 1995. Jenkins was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2009.
Most recently, Jenkins organized and funded the BGSU MIA/POW Chairs of Honor. POW/MIA chairs were installed and dedicated in 2015 in Doyt Perry Stadium, Stroh Arena, and the Ice Arena. Two additional mobile chairs were dedicated for use at other events such as baseball, soccer, swimming, etc.
Jenkins has also initiated a committee for honoring BGSU Fallen Heroes in the planning, designing and construction of the BGSU Veterans Memorial Garden. This memorial is currently in the planning stages and will be announced to the BGSU community in the very near future. This committee is also engaged in the promotion and assistance of the BGSU Student Veterans community.
