Dr. James Hobart Jenkins

Athens - Dr. James Hobart Jenkins, 86, of Athens, a retired professor of Wildlife Management, School of Forestry at the University of Georgia, and a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves, died January 16 in the loving home of his granddaughter, Alethea Gardíner Ballard and her husband Abraham Ballard after a long battle with Alzheimerís.
Jim was born January 28, 1919, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Hoy and Luella Jenkins. He graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree and then did research work with blood plasma, penicillin, and bacitracin. After that, he became a biologist with the Georgia Game and Fish Commission and went on to get a Masters and PhD from the University of Georgia.
He became a professor at the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources where he set up and headed the Wildlife and Fisheries Department. He received many awards over the years including such things as Alumni Society Outstanding Teacher Award at the School of Forestry, Phi Sigma Graduate Research Award, and recipient of the South East Annual Technical Award of the Society of American Foresters.
He served as President of the Southeastern Section of the Wildlife Society and President of the Georgia Ornithological Society. He authored over 100 publications and held 12 patents. He made many contributions to the elucidation of the extent and degree of pesticide and radioactive contamination of wildlife. Jim was a respected, honored, and admired professor at the University for 34 years, retiring as professor emeritus.
During this time he was also a research scientist and inventor. He is best known for being one of the co-inventors of the tranquilizer or dart gun that makes it possible to capture animals alive. He traveled all around the world, including many times to Africa to further his research, teach at the University of Pretoria, and capture big game animals for the first time with the tranquilizer gun. By allowing the capture and transporting of animals to protected areas, his tranquilizer gun is credited with saving the white rhino from extinction.
His many tales of adventures in Africa, sometimes slightly embellished, entertained students, friends, and family and affectionately earned him the nickname ìJungle Jim.î
He was also a co-inventor of ìHalt,î a pepper spray dog repellant used by meter readers and U.S. Postal Carriers. He also invented ìSnake Stopî used by the U.S. Army in Vietnam.
Jim was very proud to have served in the United States Air Force Reserves as a Medical Services Officer and Medical Executive Officer with assignments with the 446th Bombardment and Reconnaissance Wing, Field Hospital, Dobbins Air Force Base and Bio-Environmental Engineering Services at Warner Robins Air Force Base.
He was very honored that the USAF Surgeon Generalís Officer Classification Board conferred on him the title of Military Consultant to the USAF Surgeon General in the specialty of Medical Entomologist. He retired as a full colonel with over 27 years of service.
Jim was an avid wildlife photographer and outdoorsman, a hunter, fisherman and marksman. For years he was a member of Young Harris Memorial Methodist Church, and later Christ Church which became the Community Alliance Church.
Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha Jane Jenkins, three children: Mike Jenkins, Molly Blackwell, and Trudy Gardíner; five grandchildren: Madeline Jenkins, Alethea Gardíner Ballard, Johanna Gardíner, Amy Gardíner, and Pratima Gardíner, and one great grandchild: Lucia Gardíner Ballard.
Funeral service will be Friday at 11am at Bernstein Funeral Home Chapel. Family will receive friends 7-9 pm Thursday. Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors. If desired, in lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Mayo Foundation for Alzheimerís Disease Research, PO Box 450, Albert Lea MN, 56007.
Pallbearers will be Micheal Jenkins, Abraham Ballard, Gary Blackwell, Charles Gardíner, Kathryn Prestwood Hayes, and Jack Crockford. Honorary Pallbearers are the School of Forest Resources Faculty.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com