After placing second in the 1956 IC4A and AAU 400 m, and no better than third at the 1956 NCAA and Olympic Trials, Charlie Jenkins was a surprise winner of the Olympic title. His winning time of 46.7 was the slowest since 1928, but he showed a truer indication of his abilities with a 45.5 relay leg which gave him a second gold medal. While at Villanova, Jenkins won the AAU in 1955 and the IC4A in 1955 and 1957. Indoors he won the AAU 600 y three times and he set a world record for the 500 y in 1956. After his competitive days ended, Jenkins went into coaching and in 1981 he succeeded the legendary Jumbo Elliott as head coach at his alma mater. Jenkins's son, [Chip Jenkins], later made the Olympic team in his father's event, but with slightly less success.
Class: 1951 Inducted: 1995