Daryl Jones
Encyclopedia
Daryl Jones is a politician from Miami, Florida
, United States
.
where he was elected President of the Mississippi State Association of Student Councils and in 1973, graduated valedictorian
. Daryl subsequently attended the United States Air Force Academy
where he was the middleweight boxing champion, Cadet Vice Wing Commander and a 1977 honor graduate majoring in mathematics
. He is the first African-American graduate of a military academy from Mississippi. He has one sister and two brothers.
. He was transferred to the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Clark AB in The Philippines, and became flight leader and mission commander in Team Spirit and Cope Thunder exercises. In 1981, Capt. Jones arrived at Homestead AFB, FL, as an F-4 Phantom ll Instructor Pilot, twice named the 31st TTS Outstanding Instructor Pilot and 6 consecutive classes of student pilots named him their Outstanding Instructor Pilot. Mr. Jones left active Air Force duty in 1984 and enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law
. The University awarded Daryl its highest honor, the Iron Arrow. He graduated cum laude in 1987 after serving as President of both the Student Bar and National Bar Associations. Daryl worked as a federal judicial clerk for Judge Peter Fay in the 11th circuit court of appeals, then as an Assistant Dade County Attorney at Miami International Airport. He joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard as an A-7D Corsair ll fighter pilot. In 1989, Captain Jones transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Homestead AFB and became an F-16 Falcon fighter pilot. He rose to the rank of Colonel
as an Air Force Reservist.
From 1992-2002, he served in the Florida Senate. Senator Jones' immediately went to work, sponsoring the Hurricane Andrew Trust Fund Bill, which appropriated more than $650 million over four years to help rebuild the devastated area. South Dade County largely recovered in only four years. Senator Jones also sponsored and passed the Rosewood Bill, the only legislation in American history to grant reparations to African Americans. Uniquely qualified as an Air Force Officer, Lawyer and Statesman, during the 90s , Senator Jones successfully defended the existence of Homestead AFB before 2 Realignment and Closure Commission Boards. In 1995, Senator Jones was elected Democratic Senate President-designate. The next year, President Clinton appointed Senator Jones to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.
In 1998 he was President Bill Clinton
's choice to be Secretary of the Air Force but was not confirmed.
In 2002, Jones was the first African-American to run for Governor of Florida.
On September 14, 2006, he was chosen as a nominee for the position of Lieutenant Governor
by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis
.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early years
The son of public school teachers, Daryl Jones was born in Jackson, MS, the oldest of four children. He attended Lanier High SchoolLanier High School (Jackson, Mississippi)
Lanier High School is a high school in Jackson, Mississippi . The current principal of Lanier High School is Dr. McClung.There were a total of 872 students enrolled in Lanier High during the 2006–2007 school year. The gender makeup of the district was 52% female and 48% male...
where he was elected President of the Mississippi State Association of Student Councils and in 1973, graduated valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
. Daryl subsequently attended the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
where he was the middleweight boxing champion, Cadet Vice Wing Commander and a 1977 honor graduate majoring in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. He is the first African-American graduate of a military academy from Mississippi. He has one sister and two brothers.
Military career
Lt. Jones became an RF-4C pilot in the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He was transferred to the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Clark AB in The Philippines, and became flight leader and mission commander in Team Spirit and Cope Thunder exercises. In 1981, Capt. Jones arrived at Homestead AFB, FL, as an F-4 Phantom ll Instructor Pilot, twice named the 31st TTS Outstanding Instructor Pilot and 6 consecutive classes of student pilots named him their Outstanding Instructor Pilot. Mr. Jones left active Air Force duty in 1984 and enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
. The University awarded Daryl its highest honor, the Iron Arrow. He graduated cum laude in 1987 after serving as President of both the Student Bar and National Bar Associations. Daryl worked as a federal judicial clerk for Judge Peter Fay in the 11th circuit court of appeals, then as an Assistant Dade County Attorney at Miami International Airport. He joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard as an A-7D Corsair ll fighter pilot. In 1989, Captain Jones transferred to the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Homestead AFB and became an F-16 Falcon fighter pilot. He rose to the rank of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
as an Air Force Reservist.
Political career
Mr.Jones was elected to The Florida House of Representatives in 1990. After his first session, The Miami Herald named him Freshman Representative of The Year. On August 24 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated Representative Jones' House District while he was in the midst of a campaign for the State Senate.From 1992-2002, he served in the Florida Senate. Senator Jones' immediately went to work, sponsoring the Hurricane Andrew Trust Fund Bill, which appropriated more than $650 million over four years to help rebuild the devastated area. South Dade County largely recovered in only four years. Senator Jones also sponsored and passed the Rosewood Bill, the only legislation in American history to grant reparations to African Americans. Uniquely qualified as an Air Force Officer, Lawyer and Statesman, during the 90s , Senator Jones successfully defended the existence of Homestead AFB before 2 Realignment and Closure Commission Boards. In 1995, Senator Jones was elected Democratic Senate President-designate. The next year, President Clinton appointed Senator Jones to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.
In 1998 he was President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's choice to be Secretary of the Air Force but was not confirmed.
In 2002, Jones was the first African-American to run for Governor of Florida.
On September 14, 2006, he was chosen as a nominee for the position of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis
Jim Davis (politician)
James Oscar "Jim" Davis III is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He is a Democrat and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2007, representing Florida's 11th congressional district...
.