John T. Jones, Jr. Business and Personal Papers

Son of Margaret and John T. Jones, Sr. and nephew of Jesse H. Jones, John T. Jones, Jr. was born in Dallas, TX on Dec. 2, 1917. The family moved to Houston where Jones attend public schools at Montrose Elementary, Lanier Junior High and graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1935. He then attended New Mexico Military Institute and graduated in 1938 with a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. In fall 1938, Jones entered the University of Texas to major in business and journalism. From June through August 1939 he toured Western Europe with letters of introduction from Jesse H. Jones.

Before graduating from the University of Texas, Jones was called to activie duty by the Army. He trained in Kentucky, North Carolina and Louisiana before shipping out to England and Ireland. During duty in Tunisia, Jones and his unit were captured by the Germans. Considered MIA/POW, Jones was transported to a prisoner of war camp, Oflag 64, in Szubin, Poland in June 1943 and remained there until 1945 when Germans force-marched prisoners deeper into Germany to flee Russians entering Poland. Jones returned to Houston following D-Day, and in Oct. 1945 married Winifred Small.

Jones went to work for the Houston Chronicle, owned by his uncle Jesse H. Jones. He gradually assumed greater responsibilities for Jesse Jones Interests and upon Jesse's death assumed full stewardship, which included Houston Endowment, Inc. He resigned his position as president of Houston Endowment in 1965 and served as president of Houston Chronicle from 1950 until 1966 from which he resigned to pursue oversight of KTRH Radio and KTRK Television as president of the Rusk Corporation. As a major Houston philanthropist, Jones gave time and energy to many local and national organizations, including National Conference of Chirstians and Jews, United Negro College Fund, Variety Boys Club, Society for the Performing Arts and Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing ARts. Jones continued his business and community activities in Houston until his death in 1994.