FHS grad earns honor

Former Fairfield resident Bill Jenkins recently was named to the “Top 20 Under 40 List” of Amarillo chamber of commerce.

The award, the first ever given by the chamber, recognizes the influence of young professionals on the future of the Amarillo area.

Nominees were graded on professional involvement, community involvement and personal achievement.

Jenkins, a 1988 graduate of Fairfield high school, is an independent financial advisor and owner of SWS Financial Services.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Abilene Christian College and is a certified public accountant.

The honoree formerly worked for Merrill Lynch at the World Trade Center in New York City, and left his office at 1:30 a.m. Sept. 11, 2001, hours before terrorists flew airlines into the building’s twin towers.

He was at a Merrill Lynch corporate campus in Princeton, N.J., when the attact occurred.

Jenkins was employed with Merrill Lynch for nine years and started SWS last summer, believing he could better serve his clients as an independent financial advisor.

The honoree is the son of Johnny and Carolyn Jenkins of Fairfield.