Department: Features
Looking Back, Thinking Forward
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Interview Five: Ken Jernigan
Ken Jernigan (West Florida ’69) has been the chairman of the National Amateur Golf Tournament for the last 18 years and has served as the president of the Pensacola Area Alumni Association since 1996. His work with Burr-Patterson has him selling jewelry to Sigma Alpha Epsilon and many other Greek organizations.
I’m blessed.
Taking The Phoenix and studying the history, I realized that I’ve always tried to be a gentleman. A Southern gentleman.
I deal with people around the world. We’re in a global economy. There’s a world of programs and opportunities and networking, but I’ve experienced the need for the training programs we’ve developed.
I don’t have a job. I have fun. I don’t look a clock. I just work to get the end result. And that’s what I base my business career on.
You’ve got to have pride in what you do.
You learn new things from people. Some of the stuff these 18- and 20-year-olds do is crazy, but then you look back and see the things you used to do.
The golf tournament is an awful lot of work. We’ve had different committee members volunteer their time to make things happen, but in 2004 Hurricane Ivan kicked us in the teeth. It was hard to rebuild. But that’s why our Fraternity is strong. We have so many quality brothers who volunteer.
Bobby England started the golf tournament. He did it 12 years, I did it 12 years. We did it together on the 25th anniversary. I continued through last year, the 30th.
It’s labor of love. I won’t call it my baby, but I want people to come in and enjoy the flavor of the area. You know these people look forward to this every year.
We’ve been contacted by people who receive The Record by mistake. They say it’s not their magazine, but they ask if they can play. I say no. They ask if they can come and play on the facilities we use. I tell them to call the number.
All we can do is offer a nice venue and a nice setting and make sure people are having a good time. If you build it, they will come. It’s kinda like Field of Dreams.
Carole, my wife, she’s supportive. She never says anything if I say I have to go to a meeting. Not only did I have the alumni council meeting yesterday, but tomorrow night is my monthly alumni association meeting.
Where you find a strong alumni presence and a strong alumni association, you find a strong chapter.
A friend called and wanted to let me know that his dad passed away. You’re never ready for it, he said. I told him that I’ve experienced that with my own dad dying. Later, Carol asked what I wanted to do and I said that I was going to drive to the funeral, but that a few tornado warnings aren’t going to bother me. I walked in that funeral home and I’m sopping wet. He sees me and you could just tell – that’s my brother. He says, “I told you not to be here but you’re here for me.” We have a gentlemanly, brotherly hug and I gave him the grip. “You have no idea what it meant for me for you to be here,” he says. “We’re here for each other,” I say.
That’s what it’s about.
She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And I was a confirmed bachelor.
I told her, “I knew I was going to marry you the first time I laid eyes on you.” She said, “So why did you take so long?”
Carole’s an artist. She draws pictures for the kids when we teach Sunday school. If the person in the story is on the side of a mountain, that’s how she draws them.
White hairs? I earned every one of them suckers.
You can’t look back. In my early days, I thought I wanted to be a dentist, so I majored in biology. I’ve had other opportunities. I taught high school. I don’t regret the time it took to get my master’s degree. I don’t regret getting my real-estate license, getting my general-contractor’s license. You can’t ever stop learning.
You have to have a nice blend with your faith, with your church, with your family, with your Fraternity, with your friends.
It’s about loyalty. And it’s about respect. Those are two pillars for your life.
I try to lead by example. I want people to know that I’m a Christian. When people are around me, I want them to know that I’m different.
Everybody is good as their word. And my word is good.
I’m not a star golfer. I’m not a celebrity. I’m Ken Jernigan.
May 5th, 2009at 9:08 am(#)
Great Interview. I was there when John won the award. What a proud moment. I had only known him for a short amount of time and already knew he deserved it.
Meeting Miss America wasn’t bad either.
May 5th, 2009at 9:52 am(#)
I and several of my Tennessee Delta brothers have been going to the SAE National Amateur golf tournament for about 20 years. The first and foremost reason is Ken Jernigan. I am sure that any other regular to the tournament would tell you the same. Ken is the epitome of the “True Gentleman” and his tireless work and devotion to his local chapter and the tournament are truly inspiring. Through the good times and the bad, Ken and his tournament committee have made the tournament not only fun, but an honor to SAE and what it represents. I am proud to call Ken a brother and will never forget him, or any of the other E’s around the country that I have had the pleasure to meet and become friends with through my participation in the tournament.
May 5th, 2009at 10:41 am(#)
Hello Brothers,
Great job on the Record! Keep it up.
Phi Alpha
Vance Thomas
May 5th, 2009at 12:36 pm(#)
The A. Rice interview highlights the genuine courage of a young SAE; he is an inspiration to all that read this – great job telling this story!
May 5th, 2009at 12:42 pm(#)
I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with E. Wesley Ely, M.D. It’s nice to hear about someone who has the right priorities in place and understands the gifts he’s been given. What a great man to be able to call a brother.
May 5th, 2009at 4:36 pm(#)
I had the pleasure of playing in the SAE golf tournament for the first time in 2008. Ken was the person I contacted to get into the tournament and gave me all the information I needed to make the cross country trip from California. He also introduced me to a great number of SAE’s from all over the country that had been participating in the tournament for a number of years. Ken showed me that he is one of the reasons we all became E’s. He is a True Genteleman and I am proud to have gotten to know him. I will see you all at the end of the month for the 2009 tournament.
And to Gene Flathman…..I am bringing back the Ipod and the dirty towel.
Phi Alpha,
Ryan Miller
May 6th, 2009at 8:51 am(#)
It is really great to hear Jack Hotaling is still a part of the fraternity. Many of the things he said during those years of upheaval were not really understood. It was taken as being sympathetic to the radical movement. Some said even uglier things.
When I became Archon of the chapter, Jack told me that we had to be non-judgemental about the issues we faced and yes, it was tough, especially when we had demonstrations.
Jack taught me to be the one of the best Preceptor’s in the fraternity and every time I did that part for a new chapter especially, I still remember what he said about the manner in which the Preceptor’s role should be taken: you are a teacher, not a preacher.
Thanks for a great interview, though short. And hello to Jack Hotaling, a great brother to this fraternity.
May 6th, 2009at 10:48 am(#)
Jack–
It’s been so many years since I’ve seen you (it doesn’t seem like 50, but it is). I remember all of the tireless work you put in at NY Delta and what great shape we all left the chapter in upon graduation. I still am in frequent contact with Lee Kirk, Ben Adams, Bill Vrooman and Phil Stevens.
I, too am a grandfather to 7 year old twin boys. They definitely are the love of my life. My sons and I started a winery in Southern California; check it out on the web.
Best of health and happiness to you.
In the bonds,
Fred
May 11th, 2009at 12:04 am(#)
I have known and respected Ken Jernigan for almost 40 years (he was my high school Science teacher). He has embodied the most esteemed “True Gentleman” doctrine in all ways of his life and I am proud to call him friend and brother. No better example could be found; and I am so glad that others have recognized his noble nature. May God continue to bless him and his family – as Ken has been such a blessing to all who have known him.
August 20th, 2009at 8:34 pm(#)
Aaron,
As a military veteran and SAE myself…thanks brother for serving our country…jb