Carl Jensen, Highline's "Citizen of the Century," died of cancer at the age of 97 on Nov. 21.

In March 2000, the Times/News and the Highline Historical Society bestowed the honor on the man who guided the Highline School District as superintendent from 1953 to 1971.

Mr. Jensen's death came five weeks after the passing of his close friend and the person he mentored to become his successor in the district's top job, Robert Sealey.

Sealey, 79, passed away from cancer on Oct. 15 at his Lake Burien home.

Sealey's death "just about broke Dad's back," observed Larry Jensen, Mr. Jensen's only child. ""They were friends for 50 years."

In his letter outlining Mr. Jensen's accomplishments and nominating him for the citizen of the century award, Sealey demonstrated why Mr. Jensen was an overwhelming choice:

"Jensen shared his vision and contributed leadership throughout the community. He was a major force in the acquisition of Camp Waskowitz, the founding of Highline Community College and our state's first Occupational Skills Center," Sealey wrote.

"He also served on the Forward Thrust Planning Board, which brought this district its many swimming pools. His leadership on the board of television's educational channel, KCTS, brought education into the homes of our community. He served on the board of the Pacific Science Center and also helped in the founding of our community's first savings and loan."

Highline historian Melba Eyler summarized Mr. Jensen's accomplishments more poetically in her nominating letter:

"Just as a pebble is dropped into a pond, sending out ever-lasting ripples and waves, so has Jensen's accomplishments reached untold numbers, benefiting their communities and their lives."

Mr. Jensen attended Central Washington University and the University of Washington. He began his career as a teacher, coach and counselor.

He was named vice principal at Highline High School in 1945 and became administrative assistant to L.D. Baker, the district's first superintendent, in 1949.

When Baker retired at the end of the 1952-53 school year, Mr. Jensen became Highline's second superintendent.

Mr. Jensen's forward thinking was evident early in his tenure, according to his son. Jensen said his dad foresaw the oncoming baby boom of children born shortly after World War II.

He got permission from school board members to acquire vacant land in undeveloped areas before enrollment soared.

"He saved the taxpayers a whole lot," Jensen noted.

His father also demonstrated his frugality and lack of pretension when board members provided him with a private vehicle for his job.

"Since they had done it without his permission, he insisted it be a neutral color and not flashy," Jensen remembered.

During Mr. Jensen's first years as superintendent, nearly 2,000 new students enrolled each year. Enrollment ballooned from 15,000 students to 32,000.

Mr. Jensen discussed the challenges in his book, Highline School District Chronicle, published in 1981:

"At one time, 24 building projects of new schools were in various stages of construction. In one 5-year period, classrooms were being built at the rate of one every three and one-half days."

While visiting a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Mr. Jensen saw the potential of using the camp as a "Classroom in the Cascades."

Because school districts were not allowed to buy property outside their boundaries, Mr. Jensen formed the "Puget Sound Youth Foundation." Through his contacts with business people he raised the money to acquire Camp Waskowitz near North Bend, according to his son.

Waskowitz has served as an outdoor education camp for generations of children, including Mr. Jensen's son and grandchildren.

Foreseeing development that has crept east of North Bend, his father made sure buffer land was purchased surrounding the camp, Jensen noted.

As president of the state school superintendents association, Mr. Jensen pushed to form Highline Community College.

However, as Mr. Jensen noted in his book on school district history, the state's previous junior colleges, except for Everett, were not in areas with four-year colleges. University officials resisted placement of a two-year college in populated areas.

But Mr. Jensen, with the help of key Highline lawmakers and education officials, got the law changed and Highline College was formed.

Jensen noted the college was operated by the school district for its first few years.

Despite Mr. Jensen's busy schedule, Larry Jensen jokes that as a child, "I didn't know he had a job.

"When he got home, he left the job behind," Jensen remembered.

Living near Three Tree Point, Mr. Jensen, a former coach, taught his son to swim and water ski.

"He did all the stuff a dad is supposed to do," Jensen added. "He was easy going and always available."

As "Grandpa Carl," Mr. Jensen was very supportive of his three grandchildren and one great-grandchild, according to Larry Jensen's daughter, Sara Dumlao.

"He wanted to be a part of our lives," Dumlao noted. "He helped us at college and gave us good advice on careers."

In retirement, Mr. Jensen served on various boards. He also snowboarded, skied and played tennis, Jensen said.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Archer Jensen.

Instead of a memorial service, his family is planning an open house at Camp Waskowitz honoring the camp's founder, Carl Jensen.