C. C. Jenks, 74, Dies; Jeweler, Radio 'Ham'

C. C. Jenks, 74, Dies; Jeweler, Radio 'Ham'
YPSILANTI - A retired jeweler and graduate electrical engineer who helped build a Detroit radio station died of cancer today. He was Cyrus C. Jenks, 74, of 1220 Congress.
Mr. Jenks, as a hobby, spent much of his lifetime working in and promoting amateur radio, utilizing a 1,000-watt transmitter to make contacts throughout the world and relaying messages.
In 1963, he was cited in The News for making it possible for an Ypsilanti woman to talk to her husband then at Hallett Station, Antarctica. It was their sixth wedding anniversary.
The "ham" radio operator in 1960 was presented with the Cosmo G. Calkins Memorial Award at a state convention of radio amateurs. The award cited him for outstanding public service, mentioning he had made about 600 radio contacts with Americans in Antarctica, relaying messages across the country by telephone.
Mr. Jenks was a former president of the Huron Valley Amateur Radio Association and served the Washtenaw Civil Defense unit for many years.
He was a jeweler and optometrist here between 1926 and 1960, when he retired, operating C. C. Jenks, Jewelers, until 1948, when he went into partnership. The business then became Jenks & Campbell. It was changed to Campbell's Jewelers in 1960.
Mr. Jenks earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Michigan, working part-time at the former Arnold's Jewelers in Ann Arbor.
He earned a degree in optometry in Detroit, working in that field until settling in Ypsilanti in 1926, when he purchased a jewelry business owned by Fran Showerman.
Mr. Jenks, who was a Mason, helped build radio station WWJ while in Detroit.
He was born Nov. 16, 1890, in Buchanan, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Milo C. Jenks.
Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Stevens & Bush Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning tomorrow afternoon.