Clifford A. Jones
Encyclopedia
Clifford A. Jones, Sr. (February 19, 1912 – November 16, 2001) was an American
politician
. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
from January 1947 to December 1954.
Clifford A. Jones' was also the founder of the Jones, Jones Close & Brown branch of the one of Nevada's legendary law firms, today known as Jones Vargas.
Cliff Jones was born in Long Lane, Missouri
. His family moved to Las Vegas in 1931 while Cliff was in college at the University of Missouri. When they weren’t attending school, both Cliff and his younger brother, Herbert M. Jones, worked on the construction of Boulder Dam in the 1930’s, working their way up from servers at the Anderson mess hall to various jobs including mucker, puddler, signalman, crane operator and power hose operator.
While an undergraduate, Cliff took classes at the University of Missouri School of Law
, with the result that Cliff had accumulated three years of law school credits before he actually graduated from law school. This qualified Cliff to sit for the Nevada bar exam during his final semester of law school. Consequently, in the winter of 1937, Cliff traveled from Columbia, Missouri to Carson City and took the exam. He was notified later that semester that he had passed.
Cliff returned to law school and completed his studies and graduated in the spring of 1938. He returned home to Las Vegas and was sworn in as an attorney, one of only five newly admitted attorneys in Nevada that year. He immediately entered private practice.
During the years before World War II, Cliff entered Nevada politics. In the 1940 election, he was elected to the Nevada Assembly and become its majority leader and chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
During World War II
, Cliff was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army
. He served in the European theater, in the Third and Ninth Armies, earning four battle stars
and a Bronze Star Medal
with an oak leaf cluster
. By the war's end, he was discharged as a lieutenant colonel
.
Cliff returned home in 1945. Later that year, he was appointed as a District Judge for Clark County, a position he held only one year. In 1946, Cliff ran for and was elected the State's Lieutenant Governor, an office he held for two terms, from January 1947 to January 1955. Cliff was a highly successful politician with wide ranging interests and influence during these years. In political circles he was known as "Big Juice" for his political influence.
In addition to his law practice and his political interests, Cliff Jones was a businessman with wide ranging interests. He founded the first ready mix concrete company in southern Nevada, and he helped found Valley Bank of Nevada. At various times he had interests in casinos including the El Cortez
, the Algiers
, The Dunes, Golden Nugget
, Pioneer
, Thunderbird
and Westerner, plus international properties in France, Lebanon and Ecuador.
In 1969, a merger created the firm of Jones, Jones, Close, Bilbray & Kaufman, Ltd. This entity is one of the two direct predecessors in the firm known today as Jones Vargas.
Cliff Jones was instrumental in the founding of the Bank of Las Vegas which later became Valley Bank of Nevada, one of the few banks in this time period to make loans to Nevada casinos.
In early 1993 Clifford A. Jones retired, closing out a career that spanned 55 years. In November 2001 he died at the age of 89.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is based in Carson City, Nevada and elected for 4 year terms. The 33rd and current Lt. Governor for the 2007-2011 term is Brian Krolicki....
from January 1947 to December 1954.
Clifford A. Jones' was also the founder of the Jones, Jones Close & Brown branch of the one of Nevada's legendary law firms, today known as Jones Vargas.
Cliff Jones was born in Long Lane, Missouri
Long Lane, Missouri
Long Lane is an unincorporated community in Dallas County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 32 eleven miles east of Buffalo.Long Lane is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Features:...
. His family moved to Las Vegas in 1931 while Cliff was in college at the University of Missouri. When they weren’t attending school, both Cliff and his younger brother, Herbert M. Jones, worked on the construction of Boulder Dam in the 1930’s, working their way up from servers at the Anderson mess hall to various jobs including mucker, puddler, signalman, crane operator and power hose operator.
While an undergraduate, Cliff took classes at the University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law is the law school of the University of Missouri, a state university in the U.S. State of Missouri. It is located on the university's main campus in Columbia, forty minutes from the Missouri State Capitol and Supreme Court in Jefferson City...
, with the result that Cliff had accumulated three years of law school credits before he actually graduated from law school. This qualified Cliff to sit for the Nevada bar exam during his final semester of law school. Consequently, in the winter of 1937, Cliff traveled from Columbia, Missouri to Carson City and took the exam. He was notified later that semester that he had passed.
Cliff returned to law school and completed his studies and graduated in the spring of 1938. He returned home to Las Vegas and was sworn in as an attorney, one of only five newly admitted attorneys in Nevada that year. He immediately entered private practice.
During the years before World War II, Cliff entered Nevada politics. In the 1940 election, he was elected to the Nevada Assembly and become its majority leader and chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Cliff was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He served in the European theater, in the Third and Ninth Armies, earning four battle stars
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
and a Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with an oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
. By the war's end, he was discharged as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
.
Cliff returned home in 1945. Later that year, he was appointed as a District Judge for Clark County, a position he held only one year. In 1946, Cliff ran for and was elected the State's Lieutenant Governor, an office he held for two terms, from January 1947 to January 1955. Cliff was a highly successful politician with wide ranging interests and influence during these years. In political circles he was known as "Big Juice" for his political influence.
In addition to his law practice and his political interests, Cliff Jones was a businessman with wide ranging interests. He founded the first ready mix concrete company in southern Nevada, and he helped found Valley Bank of Nevada. At various times he had interests in casinos including the El Cortez
El Cortez
The El Cortez, a hotel and casino is a relatively small downtown Las Vegas gaming venue a block from the Fremont Street Experience and Las Vegas Boulevard. The official marketing slogan has been "Where locals come to play" since the El Cortez has traditionally attracted Las Vegas residents weary of...
, the Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, The Dunes, Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget has several uses including:Casinos:*Golden Nugget Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey**"Golden Nugget" was also the original name of the ACH Casino Resort from 1980 to 1987*Golden Nugget Laughlin in Laughlin, Nevada...
, Pioneer
Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall
The Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall is a hotel and casino in Laughlin, Nevada known for its neon cigarette-puffing River Rick marque. It used to be a sister property of Pioneer Club in Las Vegas until both properties sold to separate parties.-History:...
, Thunderbird
Thunderbird
-Creatures:* Thunderbird , a legendary creature in Native American culture* Dromornithidae, an extinct Australian family of birds* Thunderbird , a term used in cryptozoology to describe large, bird-like creatures-Computing:...
and Westerner, plus international properties in France, Lebanon and Ecuador.
In 1969, a merger created the firm of Jones, Jones, Close, Bilbray & Kaufman, Ltd. This entity is one of the two direct predecessors in the firm known today as Jones Vargas.
Cliff Jones was instrumental in the founding of the Bank of Las Vegas which later became Valley Bank of Nevada, one of the few banks in this time period to make loans to Nevada casinos.
In early 1993 Clifford A. Jones retired, closing out a career that spanned 55 years. In November 2001 he died at the age of 89.