I am extending my sincerest condolences to the family of the late Mr. Whitfield Jenkins, a proud Florida A&M University alumnus, standout football/basketball player, and Florida civic leader who passed away yesterday at the age of 85.

Mr. Jenkins with President Barack Obama…

Well over a decade ago, I met Mr. Jenkins, a longtime Florida NAACP Branch President and civic leader, during my tenure as general counsel for the Florida Conference of Branches and he immediately said to me after a meeting “you walk and talk just like my old teammate ‘Charlie Weaver,’ so you MUST be his son,” a reference to my father’s FAMU nickname; a mentor/friendship was immediately struck!

Jenkins (left) with FAMU football/track superstar Robert “China Doll” Paremore during picture day prior to the 1961 National Championship season…

In the years that followed, Mr. Jenkins would send me newspaper articles of interest via email, shared my articles in national publications like The Hill, subscribed to my Hobbservation Point blog, and was an occasional commenter on my Facebook posts where he added wisdom on any number of pertinent topics ranging from politics and social action to one of his favorite topics, FAMU football during the Dynasty years under Coach Jake Gaither. During the late 1950’s and early 60’s, Mr. Jenkins and his teammates won two Black College National Championships during the height of the Jim Crow era and saw scores of players tapped to play in the professional ranks, including Bob “Crow” Hayes, the Olympic world record holder who was the first Rattler to be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame.

As I was scrolling through dozens of our emails after I saw the notice of his passing this morning posted by his son, Dr. Sultan Jenkins, I ran back across one that he copied me on several years back that he sent to his fellow old school members of the FAMU “Varsity F” Club one weekend after watching old episodes of Animal Kingdom that immediately made me smile:

“…Years ago I disputed the statement being touted of the ‘Lion is the King of the Jungle.’ Of all the Tarzan movies and lions battles neither mess with the gorilla. Look at those muscles! Gorillas die of old age in the jungle. Lions don’t mess with Gorillas. King Kong is no joke! The gorilla is the baddest animal in the jungle. I used to tell my football teammates when we were fighting it out in the pit, I am a gorilla. Meaning that you better be prepared to bleed in our battles. I had some bad guys in our pit battles who were looked forward to by teammates and coaches. Check out the history of Charles Hobbs, Willie Flemming, Robert Brown, Curtis Miranda, Charles Sutton, Roosevelt Coleman, Jake Bradley, Willie Clarington, Peter Livingston, Alfred Rogers, Butch Mackay, Carlton Oats, Eddie Simmons, Harold Scott, Walter Highsmith etc. On the two and three on one’s, you had to be a gorilla to survive. The ole gorilla is still alive here in Ocala 81 plus. I pray often for my gorilla teammates. We know who the gorillas were! Whitfield…”

Indeed, Mr. Jenkins! May God continue to bless and keep your entire family, former schoolmates, colleagues, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Brothers as you take your eternal rest, Sir! I will never forget you! 🧡 💚 🐍