Robert I. Jones

Ex-Central High coach active in South Bend sports almost 40 years

MOBILE, Ala.- Robert I. Jones, who had a profound impact on the South Bend athletic community, died Thursday of natural causes in Mobile, Ala. He was 86. Monday would have been his 87th birthday. Mr.

Jones dedicated almost 40 years to South Bend high school athletics, serving as head football coach, head wrestling coach and athletic director at South Bend Central and athletic director for the South Bend Community School Corp. Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his wife, Velma. He is survived by a daughter and a son, Nancy Kristina Miles and Christopher Robert Jones, and seven grandchildren. Born March 28, 1912, in Wabash, Mr.

Jones attended Indiana University. He won consecutive Big Ten wrestling championships in 1932 and 1933 and was captain of the football team and an All-Big Ten punter and guard in 1933. After playing one season with the Green Bay Packers, Jones came to South Bend as a teacher and as Central's football coach. years, he compiled a 123-57-12 record with Northern Indiana Conference championships in 1940, 1958 and 1959. Mr.

Jones coached wrestling at Central for 16 years, winning four sectionals, eight conference titles and the 1955-56 state championship. Jones Mr. Jones' coaching career was interrupted three times by military service. He served in World War II and in the Korean Conflict as an Air Force major. Jones remained on reserve duty and ultimately was promoted to full colonel.

In April 1963, Mr. Jones accepted the position of athletic director for the South Bend Community School Corp., where he served until his retirement in 1972. Mr. Jones was instrumental in building support for the construction of swimming pools at Adams, Riley, LaSalle and Jackson high schools. He also helped win support for the football stadium and 1 track at Jackson.

Mr. Jones was among the charter classes of inductees into both the Indiana wrestling and football halls of fame. He was inducted into the South Bend School Boosters Hall of Fame in 1989 and received the Russ Oliver Award in 1977 and the Sam Wegner Award in 1981. Mr. Jones sat for nine years on The Tribune's high school football panel.

"I'm always so sorry when a close friend passes away," said longtime colleague Ross Stephenson, who served as Central's athletic director from 1952- Jones 1970 and also assisted Jones on the football team. "He was a real great friend of mine all these years. We've stayed in contact. We had so much in common, including both serving in Europe (during World War II). "He was a real close friend who made a lot of contributions to South Bend football.

"(His biggest contribution) was the whole effect he had, the whole texture of his life. "Along with his many accomplishments, he was a great friend." Memorial contributions may be made to the Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church in Spanish Fort, Ala. Services were Saturday. Radney Funeral Home, Mobile, Ala., handled arrangements..

Source: Newspapers.com

10/29/2024 EJS