University of Tennessee Athletics
Don and Florence Jones Track Office Dedication Held
May 17, 2003 | Men's Track
May 17, 2003
As the SEC Track and Field Championships were moving into their third day outside on Tom Black Track, ceremonies were held inside at the University of Tennessee Men's Track and Field Office, Room 130 in Stokely Athletics Center, to name the suite of offices after UT alum Don Jones, Class of 1950, and wife, Florence, of Crowley, La.
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| Don and Flo Jones is flanked by UT athletic directors Joan Cronan and Doug Dickey in Saturday's track & field office dedication in Stokely Athletics Center. Also pictured is Lady Vols head coach J.J. Clark and Vols head coach Bill Webb and assistant Vince Anderson. |
With head track coaches Bill Webb and J.J. Clark and other UTAD administrators looking on, Doug Dickey and Joan Cronan discussed the implications of the Jones gift.
"On behalf of the University of Tennessee, I want to thank Don and Flo for their long-time support of the University of Tennessee," Cronan said. "He is a track enthusiast and loves all sports. We are excited about their commitment."
"We are here today to thank Don and Flo for their generous commitment to the University of Tennessee," Dickey said. "They have been strong supporters of the University and the Athletics Department, particularly the Tony Wilson Memorial Athletics Scholarship. Today we honor them for their recent commitment to the STEP UP Campaign."
Don Jones, a UT geology graduate who has also endowed a scholarship in the Department of Geological Sciences, said his grandson was 15 and a promising discus thrower. He added that he ran track in high school and would have loved to have participated in college after his return from World War II.
"Track is my first love," he said. "I have worked with Chuck Rohe, Stan Huntsman and Bill Webb over the years and have been impressed with them running a class program with class athletes. I have always enjoyed being associated with nice people. I'm overwhelmed with this honor."
Dickey added that, "From the updates to Tom Black Track that we all see with the new scoreboard, the resurfacing of the track, and the construction on the south side, we are doing everything we can to make sure we have the best facilities for our track program."
The gift to create the Don and Florence Jones Track Office is part of STEP UP, a comprehensive program for new, renovated and expanded facilities benefiting 17 of UT's 20 men and women's intercollegiate teams. These improvements are designed to enable UT to continue competing for SEC and NCAA championships in each of its sports.
For more information about Tennessee's athletics facility renovation plans or to find out about donating to the university's athletics department, contact Scott Rabenold or John Currie at (865) 974-1218.
