Dr. James Hobart Jenkins was a retired professor of Wildlife Management, School of Forestry at the University of Georgia, and a retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Dr. Jenkins was born Jan. 28, 1919, in Mount Vernon 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 master's and Ph.D. 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. Dr. Jenkins 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 "Jungle Jim." He was also a co-inventor of "Halt," a pepper spray dog repellent used by meter readers and U.S. Postal Carriers. He also invented "Snake Stop" used by the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Dr. Jenkins was very proud to have served in the U.S. 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 General's 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.
From the description of James H. Jenkins Papers, 1938-1981. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 688600170
