James Herbert Jones
Encyclopedia
James Herbert "Jimmie Red" Jones (March 14, 1920 – September 1, 2008) was the Arkansas State Auditor
from 1956 to 1980 the Adjutant General
of the Arkansas National Guard
from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1984.
, where he grew up and attended high school. He was a standout high school football
player, and captain of his team. Jones attended Southern State University
, where he played college football
, serving there as a team captain as well. He played with Charlie McClendon, who later became the longtime head coach
of Louisiana State University
. After college, Jones attended the University of Arkansas School of Law
, and Keegan's School of Radio and Television in Memphis, Tennessee
.
Jones had a varied early work career, working as a store clerk, gas station attendant, and a "roughnecker" and "switcher" in the oil fields, before moving on to his long career in the military and public service. He was a very devoted son to his mother and during his late 1950ss when she was sick in a nursing home in Magnolia would drive each week the three hours from Little Rock to bring her her favorite dinner and sit with her for an hour or two and then make the long drive home to Little Rock. He developed a reputation for honesty and kindness, part of his political success. While he was State Auditor he drove older cars to conserve state funds and was always humble about his duties as a public servant.
in 1938, but did not enter active service until October 1942. After entering active service he was trained as a bombardier and, at the end of 1943, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He commanded the 93 Bomb Group, and flew thirty combat missions with this group. In 1944 he was promoted to First Lieutenant
, and in 1945 he was removed from active duty and put in the Officers Reserve Corps. For his combat service and valor he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, five Bronze Stars and the World War II Victory Medal
. He served as Commander of The American Legion
Department of Arkansas.
of the State National Guard twice after the end of his tenure as State Auditor. The first tenure was from 1979 to 1981, and the second was from 1983 to 1984. His path to becoming the State Commander of the National Guard was long and steady. In 1951 he was promoted to Captain and given responsibilities as the adjutant, communications, and motor officer of the 206 Tank Battalion. He was transferred to the National Guard state headquarters in 1961, where he was promoted to Major
and given new duties. In 1967 he was again promoted, this time to Lieutenant Colonel
, in which authority he served as State Inspector and Director of Supply and Maintenance, and, in 1971, he was promoted to Colonel
. After his promotion to Colonel he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control, where he served until being made Adjutant General. He reached the rank of Major General
in this capacity before his retirement. He received the Legion of Merit
and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal
as awards for his service.
Tax Collector. In the same time period he was a leading organizer in the Magnolia chapters of the Chamber of Commerce
, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
. During this time he also served as the Southern State College Alumni Association President and other community organizations.
Arkansas Governor Francis Cherry
appointed Jones as State Lands Commissioner in 1955, a position he served for just over a year, before being elected Arkansas State Auditor
in 1956. He was then reelected to 11 two-year terms before retiring in 1978. Jones served as Governor Bill Clinton
's campaign manager in his 1982 reelection campaign, and remained a Democratic Activist, including serving as a major fundraiser for Clinton and the State Party. He died in Hot Springs, Arkansas
at age 88.
Arkansas State Auditor
Arkansas State Auditor is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government...
from 1956 to 1980 the Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...
from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1984.
Early life
Jones was born in Magnolia, ArkansasMagnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
, where he grew up and attended high school. He was a standout high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
player, and captain of his team. Jones attended Southern State University
Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia, the seat of Columbia County in Arkansas, United States, not far from the Louisiana state line.-Location:Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census...
, where he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, serving there as a team captain as well. He played with Charlie McClendon, who later became the longtime head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. After college, Jones attended the University of Arkansas School of Law
University of Arkansas School of Law
The University of Arkansas School of Law is the law school of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a state university. It has around 445 students enrolled in its Juris Doctor and Master of Law programs and is home to the federally-funded National Agricultural Law Center and the...
, and Keegan's School of Radio and Television in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
Jones had a varied early work career, working as a store clerk, gas station attendant, and a "roughnecker" and "switcher" in the oil fields, before moving on to his long career in the military and public service. He was a very devoted son to his mother and during his late 1950ss when she was sick in a nursing home in Magnolia would drive each week the three hours from Little Rock to bring her her favorite dinner and sit with her for an hour or two and then make the long drive home to Little Rock. He developed a reputation for honesty and kindness, part of his political success. While he was State Auditor he drove older cars to conserve state funds and was always humble about his duties as a public servant.
Military service
Jones first joined the Arkansas National GuardArkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...
in 1938, but did not enter active service until October 1942. After entering active service he was trained as a bombardier and, at the end of 1943, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He commanded the 93 Bomb Group, and flew thirty combat missions with this group. In 1944 he was promoted to First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, and in 1945 he was removed from active duty and put in the Officers Reserve Corps. For his combat service and valor he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, five Bronze Stars and the World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
. He served as Commander of The American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
Department of Arkansas.
Arkansas National Guard
Jones joined the Arkansas National Guard at age 18, and remained a member for the rest of his life. He was made Adjutant GeneralAdjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the State National Guard twice after the end of his tenure as State Auditor. The first tenure was from 1979 to 1981, and the second was from 1983 to 1984. His path to becoming the State Commander of the National Guard was long and steady. In 1951 he was promoted to Captain and given responsibilities as the adjutant, communications, and motor officer of the 206 Tank Battalion. He was transferred to the National Guard state headquarters in 1961, where he was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and given new duties. In 1967 he was again promoted, this time to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, in which authority he served as State Inspector and Director of Supply and Maintenance, and, in 1971, he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. After his promotion to Colonel he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control, where he served until being made Adjutant General. He reached the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in this capacity before his retirement. He received the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
as awards for his service.
Political career
Jones's political career began in 1950, with his election to the first of two terms as Columbia County, ArkansasColumbia County, Arkansas
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
Tax Collector. In the same time period he was a leading organizer in the Magnolia chapters of the Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
. During this time he also served as the Southern State College Alumni Association President and other community organizations.
Arkansas Governor Francis Cherry
Francis Cherry
Francis Adams Cherry was the 35th Governor of Arkansas, elected as a Democrat for a single two-year term from 1953 to 1955. He was only the second governor in Arkansas history to have been denied a second term—the first was Tom Jefferson Terral, who was defeated in 1926. After the...
appointed Jones as State Lands Commissioner in 1955, a position he served for just over a year, before being elected Arkansas State Auditor
Arkansas State Auditor
Arkansas State Auditor is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government...
in 1956. He was then reelected to 11 two-year terms before retiring in 1978. Jones served as Governor 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 campaign manager in his 1982 reelection campaign, and remained a Democratic Activist, including serving as a major fundraiser for Clinton and the State Party. He died in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
at age 88.