LESLIE J. TOMPKINS

Leslie Tompkins joined the Yonkers YMCA as a teenager. Through the encouragement of Y staff he became employed to work with “boot blacks” and “newsboys,” the school dropouts of the early 1900s. He attended Springfield College, graduating in 1918 with a bachelor’s degree in Humanics. He married Beulah M. Tayntor in March 1918, shortly after his induction into the Army. After service in the U.S. Army he returned to the Y as a member of the Maine State YMCA Committee where he assisted in the fundraising effort and construction of the Maine State YMCA Camp.

In 1919 Tompkins was appointed the general secretary of the Gloversville, New York YMCA and four years later moved to the Amsterdam, New York Association. During this period he spearheaded the fundraising and construction of the Gloversville-Amsterdam YMCA Camp. In Amsterdam he was active in the community effort to rid city government of gambling and corruption. He next joined the staff of the New York State YMCA Executive Committee. Here he was responsible for providing training and support to the Railroad and City Associations. At this point in his career he adopted the challenge to raise the competence of YMCA secretaries.

Tompkins became the executive for personnel service of the National Council of YMCAs in 1937. He traveled across America, first advocating, then establishing, written personnel policies and a certification system. At YMCA conferences and seminars he taught YMCA Administration and The History and Philosophy of the YMCA to provide certification credits for both new and seasoned professionals. During this time he also earned his master’s degree at New York University.

Tompkins was named associate general secretary and executive of field services of the National Council of YMCAs in 1946, a position he held until his retirement in 1957. While administering the work of 17 field offices he continued to advocate for staff recruitment, training, and the upgrading of professional competence for all YMCA staff. Mr. Tompkins embodied the belief that everyone should be encouraged to develop and enhance their skills and be rewarded with opportunities for greater responsibility. He was quick to reach out to both young and experienced secretaries who called for help, providing counsel and encouragement. He was elected the second executive director of the Association of Secretaries, a position he held from 1958 to 1966.

Tompkins was an avid writer. He authored four books, eight professional papers, and 36 articles during his career. He served as an adjunct professor at Springfield College during summers from 1937 to 1966 and through correspondence courses until 1973. In 1946 he received the Tarbell Medallion from the College and later served as a trustee and corporator.

Tompkins once described a YMCA Secretary as “a Christian on the job if like Jesus he is faithful to God in his calling as Christ was faithful in his.” His life’s work was devoted to this call. He is survived by his son James and daughter Barbara Ruth Spack.