Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones
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Jones in 1970
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| Born | August 6, 1905 |
| Died | April 9, 1982 (aged 76) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | President and baseball coach, Grambling State University |
| Coaching career | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1936–1977 | Grambling State Tigers |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 816–218 (.789) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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| Awards | |
| NAIA Coach of the Year Award (1967) | |
| College Baseball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2011 |
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Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Sr. (born August 6, 1905 – died April 9, 1982) was an important American educator and leader. Many people knew him as Prez Jones. He served as the second president of Grambling State University. This is a historically black university located in Grambling, Louisiana. He was president from 1936 until 1977. He also coached the school's baseball team, the Grambling State Tigers. Later, he was honored by being added to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Education
Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on August 6, 1905. His grandfather had been a slave. His father, John S. Jones, was the first dean of Southern University. This is another historically black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jones's mother loved the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. She named her son after the famous author.
Jones went to Southern University for his college studies. He earned his first degree, a bachelor's degree, in 1925. He then continued his education at Columbia University. There, he earned a higher degree, called a master's degree.
Leading Grambling State University
How Jones Started at Grambling
Charles P. Adams was the president of Grambling State University (GSU). He interviewed five students who were graduating from Southern University in 1925. He wanted to hire one of Jones's classmates. However, he accidentally mixed up their names and hired Jones instead! Even though President Adams realized his mistake, Jones decided to stay. He was given the job of teaching chemistry, math, and biology.
Jones quickly became very involved at Grambling. He started the school's baseball team, the Grambling State Tigers. He also became their first head coach. He even started the Grambling State Tigers football team and was its first coach. Jones also took on other important roles. He worked as the school's registrar, which meant he handled student records. He was also the dean of men, helping male students. He even formed the famous GSU Tiger Marching Band. Jones also wrote Grambling State's alma mater, which is the school's special song.
Jones Becomes President
In 1936, Jones became the president of Grambling State. At that time, the school was known as the Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute. When he became president, he gave up most of his other jobs at the school. But he kept coaching the baseball team!
The school had joined the University of Louisiana System in 1926. However, it did not get much money from the state until 1932. Jones worked hard to get more money for the school. In 1944, the school became a four-year college. Jones convinced the Louisiana State Legislature to change its name to Grambling State College. He also hired Eddie Robinson to be the football coach. In 1970, the Louisiana Board of Education made a special rule for Jones. They allowed him to keep working even after he turned 65, which was the usual retirement age. In 1974, Grambling State became a full university. Jones finally retired as president in 1977. During his time as president, the school grew a lot. The number of teachers increased from 17 to 500. The number of students grew from 120 to 4,000.
Baseball Coaching Achievements
As the baseball coach, Jones had an amazing record. His team won 816 games and lost only 218. This is a very high winning percentage. He led the Tigers to win six championships in the Midwest Athletic League between 1952 and 1958. They also won five championships in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) between 1961 and 1967. In 1967, Jones received a special honor. He won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Coach of the Year Award. Some of the players he coached later went on to play in Major League Baseball. These included Ralph Garr, Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, and Johnny Jeter.
Personal Life and Honors
Jones was married and had two sons, Ralph Jr. and John Arthur. His wife, Mildred Shay Jones, passed away in 1953. Jones died on April 9, 1982, at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, Louisiana. He had problems after surgery for gallstones. More than 2,000 people attended his memorial service at Grambling State. Important Louisiana politicians were there, including Joe Waggonner, Alphonse Jackson, and Charles C. Barham.
Jones received two special honorary degrees. In 1970, he got a Doctor of Laws from Louisiana Tech University. In 1977, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Baltimore. He was honored by being added to the SWAC Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2011, he was also added to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. Grambling State started its own Hall of Fame in 2009. Jones was one of the very first people to be included. In 2011, Grambling State renamed its baseball field. It is now called Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Park and Wilbert Ellis Field, honoring both Jones and Wilbert Ellis.
Images for kids
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R.W.E. Jones Drive in Grambling, Louisiana
See also
- List of longest serving higher education presidents in the United States
