| No. 42 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1919-06-06)June 6, 1919 Pettis County, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | September 16, 1986(1986-09-16) (aged 67) Independence, Missouri, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Higginsville |
| College |
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| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Darold Jenkins (June 6, 1919 – September 16, 1986) was an Americancollege footballcenter. He was elected to theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1976.[1]
Jenkins first joinedDon Faurot'sMissouri Tigers as afullback, spending most of his time on the bench.[2] By mid way through his junior year, Jenkins had taken over as the starting center and went on to earn All Big Six Conference honors that season.[2][3]
In 1941, as a senior, Jenkins captained Missouri to a Big Six Conference Championship and an appearance in theSugar Bowl against theFordham Rams.[1] Jenkins again earned All Big Six Conference honors and became the first Tiger to earn consensus All-America honors.[1][2]
After college, Jenkins was abomber pilot inWorld War II.[3] Flying his 27th mission, he was shot down and spent 17 months in aNazi GermanyPOW camp.[3]
Upon his discharge from the military, Jenkins went to law school, becoming a practicing attorney in 1952, eventually working for theMissouri State Highway Commission.[1] He died September 16, 1986.[1]
Faurot said of Jenkins, "I would put him on my all-time Missouri team. He is fine on the field and off. Works just as hard in practices as in a game. And he is just as good on offense as defense. You must remember the center is a main cog in our quick breaking T formation."[2]
Jenkins was inducted into theMissouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1971,[4] theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 1976,[1] and was a member of the inaugural class inducted into theUniversity of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.[3]
Jenkins was also named to the Missouri All-Homecoming Centennial Team in 2011.[5]