Craig Calkins was born in Aurora, Illinois. In 1946, he came west to attend Stanford University, earning his bachelor's degree in Business Administration just in time for another war. After the war, he returned to California, sold office equipment, and then went to work for New York Life Insurance Co., a 25-year association.

Craig's major achievements in life revolved around creating a better, more involved community. He really cared for people and took great pleasure in helping them. He was a gregarious and gifted speaker, earning the name "Talkin Calkin" for his ability to persuade people and institutions to get involved in helping the community. In addition to a lifetime of work in the Lions Club where he served as President of the Palo Alto Host Lions Club and Director of the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance, Craig was an active member of the Elks Lodge No. 1471, The Peninsula Executives Association and the Los Altos Rainbow Girls.

In 1967, Craig joined with Fellow Lions to launch the Concours d¹Elegance. He sustained and supported it through its rocky early years, when the future of the Concours was often in doubt. A tireless organizer, he was chief architect, sparkplug and guiding spirit of the Concours for 20 years. As the Concours grew, it was his power of persuasion that helped bring it to Stanford, creating a partnership that has grown and prospered steadily over the years.

By 1984, the Concours was netting $10,000 a year and had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the many organizations and causes funded by the Palo Alto Host Lions Club. After his death in 1988, that year's Concours was dedicated to Craig and an award, the Craig P. Calkins Memorial Award, was established in his name.