Background
Jones was born in Harlan, Kentucky.
basketball coach basketball player
Jones was born in Harlan, Kentucky.
He attended Harlan High School, where he set a national scoring record in basketball and led his school to a state championship. Jones attended the University of Kentucky, where he continued to play varsity football, basketball and baseball.
He played in the National Basketball Association from 1949 to 1952 with the Indianapolis Olympians. He was all-state in football, basketball and baseball. He was twice All-Securities and Exchange Commission in football.
In basketball, he was a three time All-American and four time All-Securities and Exchange Commission. He led the Wildcats to 2 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, in 1948 and 1949.
He holds the unique distinction of being an All-American under both legends, Adolph Rupp (basketball) and Bear Bryant (football) when both coached at Kentucky. He is the only player to have his number retired in both football and basketball at Kentucky.
In 1953 Jones was elected the sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky. In 1956 Jones was the Republican nominee for Kentucky"s 6th congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives.
In 1978, Jones started a charter bus company called "Blue Grass Tours" that was contracted to the United Kingdom Athletics department and more recently purchased a custom sleeper coach for the use of the athletic teams.
"Wah Wah"
Death
Jones died in Lexington on July 27, 2014 at the age of 88.
Jones was a member of the 1948 Olympic Gold medal winning team with Adolph Rupp"s "Fabulous Five" and the Phillips 66ers. At the University of Kentucky, Jones was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.