Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tom and I After 'Ci. By Kathy Edwards Gamecock Staff Writer Where do you go and what do you do after you have been the president of one university for 12 years? As I walked to the door of the Jones home on Lake Katherine, these were the specific questions for which I sought answers. But there was more to the story. I knocked on the door and Dr. Jones answered. He wore sports slacks and an open-collared shirt. "Good afternoon," he said. What a contrast to the pomp and servants of the "big house," as Mary Jones calls the Presidential Mansion on the Horseshoe. 1 followed him into the study that looks out over the lake. He sat H, planft, accesi and plant The Green House 2612 L | Aaejnewiski gouaeNt g't beca Name, Class Major Type of Involve Desired.. -- Phone Number. inary Jone uge Of C back in his "comfortable chair" and introduced, me to one of their three dogs. "This dog has his Ph.D.," Jones said. With a snap of the fingers, the dog was in his lap. "His Ph.D. is in philosophy. He just lies back and absorbs everything you're saying." Another snap of the fingers and the dog was on the floor. On the walls were pictures of Tom and Mary Jones and their children. He showed me a plaqu& he had just received from ETV and he seemed pleased that people outside the academic community would recognize his departure. It was a quiet "change of com mand." There were no formal ceremonies to honor this man who pushed USC into the "main stream" of American universities. 0 am to en ''"" DUuSC eries, rafts, I suppli.s )evine St. 258-4474 o .toc nek fi ment mmnand' I was awed by this man--his physical size, his personal con fidence and his accomplishments. We talked about his family and the pride in his childrens' ac complishments showed. The actual interview began, and as he talked I became aware of his deep feelings for the student as- a person. He talked of the humanization of the University. His -plans included changing curricula so that courses would be tailored to the individual, rather than the individual conforming to the course. To Tom Jones, each student is a person with separate needs and ambitions. During the 1970 riots, his job was endangered because he backed the student's right to be heard. And he looked for the good in the situation the closeness reached between students and faculty that he believes grew because of the situation. Jones is a man who doesn't remember defeats, he says. What good does it do to dwell on the past? He feels his foresight is better than his hindsight. After we finished the interview, we went down to join Mary Jones on the dock by the lake. She had been feeding the adopted ducks and the pidgeon, Alfie, who lived with them on campus for years. She has a habit of adopting animals who have lost their homes, and nursing them back to health. Alfie sat on her head. "Isn't this beautiful," Mary Jones said. "If we had just been able to live here a.e bNu ous e.n eau tt ---------em me.m .emm aa Dr. and Mrs. Jones at Lake Katherine. Photos by Russell Jeffcoat IpI ING OUT OF IUSINESS SALE! K MUST GO! 50 % OF erick Jeons, Screwdrivers, go. Also tops, Shirts, Belts, Jeans. BEST SELECTION il7 PM S -a TOPS in Street s Please the past 12 years an ajus had formal functions at the 'big house'. It would have eased most of the pressure, she thought, to be able to come home to the trar juility of Lake Katherine. "This is like being out of prison," she said. "We've found a new freedom away from the 'big house' with its servants and gardeners." A helicopter flew overhead and Dr. Jones recalled that when he was young the sound of an airplane would close the stores and bring everyone into the streets. Before they came to Columbia, Mary Jones was active in theatre. But for the last 12 years she has been, as she puts it, a "call girl" for the University. There were so many functions to perform that there was no time left for the things she wanted to do, she 'said . After 12 years, she doesn't know if she can perform again, but she is going to try. Mary and Tom Jones are relaxed together now. And just as he reflects his love and compassion Please Turn to Page i G0 ENTIRE STOC Tons of Blue Jeans, Mav Straight Legs, Bells. All musi Hots, Jackets and Colored SHOP EARLY FOR OPEN I 1212 Mai No ChaecL