Jenkins named editor of Republic-Monitor | Perryville Republic Monitor

RM staff

Veteran journalist Kevin R. Jenkins has been named editor of the Perry County Republic Monitor.

Jenkins has worked in the newspaper industry for 28 years, including seven and a half years as a reporter at the Daily Journal and as editor of the Farmington Press for five and a half years. He ended his tenure at the paper as the paper’s editor Daily Journal.

Previously, Jenkins was editor of The mountain echo in Ironton and the St. Clair Missourian in St. Clair, as well as a reporter for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff and the Centralia Fireguard in Centralia.

“Although I haven’t lived here all my life, I quickly fell in love with this part of the state,” Jenkins said. “The natural beauty of the area and the friendliness of the people made me feel right at home. I have always been a ‘people person’ who makes friends easily, and that is no different here. I have made many friends and many great met people in the 22 years I’ve lived here.”

Jenkins was born in El Paso, Texas and was the only child of Kenneth and Evelyn Jenkins. His father was an upper atmosphere researcher at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and his mother was a homemaker.

Jenkins graduated from Andress High School in 1975 and attended his freshman year of college at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, Texas, before transferring to Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, where he graduated in 1980 with a degree in broadcasting.

After college, Jenkins attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Masters of Religious Education (MRE) degree. For the next twenty years he served on the staff of churches from Arizona and Texas to Oklahoma and Tennessee. He moved to this state when he was appointed to the Evangelism Department of the Missouri Southern Baptist Convention (MSBC) in Jefferson City.

During his tenure at MSBC, Jenkins traveled around the state and country, speaking at churches, conventions, special events and seminars. He also traveled to the countries of Belarus and Russia, where he was part of a ministry team that trained pastors in sharing the gospel.

Jenkins was a pastor of a church when he was asked to become editor of The Mountain Echo after the death of the previous editor.

“One of my greatest joys is telling the stories of ordinary people who left a mark on their world,” said Jenkins. “There are many interesting people, but also many unsung heroes, who I have had the pleasure of bringing to the attention of readers over the years. I expect this to continue as I assume the responsibility of editor of the Republic Monitor. This is a great privilege for me and I hope I can serve our readers well.”

Jenkins has won several awards for his writing and photographs over the years and was named St. Francois County Citizen of the Year in February 2018 by the Mineral Area Community Elks Lodge in Desloge.

Jenkins moved to southeastern Missouri in 2002 and married Brenda Broeker, a teacher at Fredericktown High School, a year later. His wife is a 1987 graduate of Perryville High School. The couple have three daughters. Jenkins also has four adult children, a son and three daughters, from a previous marriage.

“We are pleased to have Kevin join our team,” said publisher Robert Cox. “With his experience and love of storytelling, he will be a welcome addition to both Perry County and our staff. We expect that his life experience and journalistic skills will only make us better.”