Hank Kirk, longtime Centralia College president, dies at 90

Former longtime Centralia College president Henry "Hank" Port Kirk III died Tuesday, April 14, his wife Jenny Kirk said in an email. He was 90.

Kirk served as the president of the college from 1986 to 2002, and was widely credited with revitalizing an institution that had been facing a possible closure. During his tenure, Kirk worked to improve the campus's facilities and programs while increasing student enrollment.

Upon his retirement, the Washington state Senate passed a resolution recognizing Kirk for his professional accomplishments and leadership across the Centralia area, including with the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, Providence Hospital Foundation, United Way, City of Chehalis Historic Preservation Commission and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He led a Bible study at the church for three decades.

Kirk was born Dec. 20, 1935, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. At 15, he became a paper carrier for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. He later attended Nyack College in Nyack, New York, and Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

In 1956, Kirk married Mattie F. Kirk, with whom he spent 40 years until her death in 1996. Together they had three children, Timothy, who died in 1992, Maryann and Rebecca.

Prior to becoming president of Centralia College, Kirk received a master's degree from the University of Denver in 1963 and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California in 1973.

Kirk served a number of roles at multiple institutions during this period. In 1981, he became a vice president at Pasadena City College in California, where he first met Jenny Kirk.

The two would reconnect years later and marry in 1997.

In 1986, Kirk applied for the open interim president position at Centralia College.

In his 2021 memoir, "Go Forward With Courage and Confidence: The World of Henry Port Kirk III," Kirk said the school had "been through some tough times politically" prior to his arrival.

The small community college was founded in 1925 by Charles L. Littel.

Kirk said he viewed the community's general sense of discouragement about the school as a challenge, however, and seized the opportunity to lead a college.

"My ten-point recovery plan included rebuilding facility and staff morale, new program development, working with the legislature on district/college structure, and capitalizing on the strong community support of the college," Kirk wrote in his memoir.

In 2003, 17 years after he became president, the college officially dedicated the Henry P. Kirk Library in his honor.

Kirk's journey in higher education wasn't over. Shortly after retirement, Kirk and his wife, Jenny, began a decade-long mission to establish and oversee the Christian-based University of Livingstonia (UNILIA) in the landlocked east African country Malawi.

The couple spent many six-month stretches in Malawi during those years.

Kirk served as vice chancellor of the university from 2002 to 2009, and was "instrumental" in creating the UNILIA Foundation to raise funds for its operations, scholarships and infrastructure, the university said in an April 14 statement.

Jenny, meanwhile, served as the director of university relations. The two retired from UNILIA in 2013. By that time, the university had nearly 1,000 students.

As of March 2025, the university had over 3,000 students.

"Professor Kirk was the visionary architect of UNILIA," the university said. "The university's growth and current standing are a direct result of his foundational leadership and unwavering dedication to academic excellence."

In a commentary for The Chronicle in 2025, Kirk congratulated Centralia College on reaching its 100-year milestone.

"It was a privilege for me to serve as president of Centralia College from 1986 to 2002," Kirk said. "In the 23 years since my retirement, my successors have provided excellent governance while faculty, staff, the boards of trustees, donors and community leaders all have worked together to maintain a high standard of conduct and a safe, supportive learning environment for students."

Kirk called the college's history remarkable.

"Know that my wife, Jenny, and I remain ardent fans of Centralia College," the president emeritus said. "I am so proud of all you have accomplished. As I often have been known to say, 'Go forward with courage and confidence' Trailblazers!"

According to Jenny, Kirk died peacefully in the early hours of April 14.

"Thank you all for loving Henry and for adding color and texture to the fabric of our lives," Kirk wrote in the email, which was sent to many of the couple's friends. "He and I have been blessed many times over by your presence."

Kirk said a celebration of life service is currently being planned. Details will be published in The Chronicle when they are finalized.

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