University of South Carolina Libraries
I Past Pi Influen By DONALD B. WEATHERBEE Dr. Thomas F. Jones Jr., president of USC from 1962 to 1974 and more recently vice president of research at thoM* rcQ/>KllCAf fo ?r Jjavuuoviii illdlHUlC UI Technology, died Tuesday, July 14, after a battle with cancer. He was 65. Jones, a Tennessee-born engineer and physicist who received his doctorate from MIT. resigned from USC in 1 1974, denying the accusation that he was forced from office by political pressure. He returned to MIT, and planned to retire this year. In South Carolina, he was best known for guiding the university through times of turbulent progression which left scars on other Southern institutions facing the same challenges. His leadership was tested and proved as early as 1963 when he headed a peaceful integration nrorp?<; at iisp while universities in Mississippi and Alabama were crippled by racial rioting. 'SINCE HIS arrival in 1962, Dr. Jones has come to personify the emerging growth of USC," the tribute reads. "His talent for leadership has brought unparalleled changes to the university in the past year. Over $24 million in construction and expansion, a progressive administrative ! reorganization, a tremendous increase in enrollment, new emphasis and expansion I of the graduate degree program, expansion of the honors program and a j record high in gifts from J private sources." | Jones was also responsible { for innovations at USC inf ^1n/4?v\n ?a. -a ? i viuuiiig iiiuc]k?iuciu siuuy J courses, the General Studies program (which withstood, I | | Got An ! I Write A I I 1 . The Ed s urawer a hii MMMm^lQQQQQ i 736 Harden St. "Five Points" ^ I "Your sped rnmnloto lino nf CM III IV* V#JL Always the finest in ru tennis shoes. Within w; 10% OFF i with tl resider ice Live this vear an attpmnt hv thf> ^ -rv ^ Commission on Higher Education to eliminate its two-year programs), and Jones in 1971 began to lay the ground work for the USC School Of Medicine, which graduated its first class in May. Jones helped the university weather the early 60s and prepared it for a continuing climate of growth which began late in that decade. USC President James B. Holderman lauded Jones' work saying, "The groundwork for much of what the university regularly is praised for today was laid by Dr. Jones during his highly rlictinrtnioU/vAl f ?? * TO/"* uioimguioiicu ici mi da uo^ president, and I continue to feel his presence every day as I walk in his footsteps." Holderman's statemert echoes a tribute written by the 1967 Garnet and Black staff, which dedicated the 1967yearbook to Jones. DURING JONES' 12 years as president, student enrollment mushroomed from 7,000 in 1962 to 26,000 in 1974, and the number of faculty increased to 1,200. Jones, a highly visible man, distinguished by his ! J ? irngc puysiqutf, Ciress DOW ties and famous cigar, increasingly won favor among students and faculty during this time. Jones expressed his educational philosophy by writing that good teachers have three things in common. "They care about the subject they are teaching, they care about the people they are teaching, and they transmit, an awareness of | their concern to their students." I Jones was not one to ! confine his personality and j knowledge to academics ; only. Former USC basket- I ball coach Frank McGuire i Opinion? | tetter to | litor. 1 issell House i KUNINCIta S CHOICE alistfor running and eedo swimwear for the nning shoes and aooarel A~ & alking distance of the car on all non-sale me tlis coupon (offer expi it Dies, is On recalled Jones as "a great man, and once he understood me we goi aiong line. McGuire remembered calling Jones out of a meeting one day to introduce him to James Michener, a famous sports writer and novelist. 44We played a little trick on him," McGuire said. "I said "Tom I want you to meet a new scout 1 hired, this is Jim Michener." As soon as the introduction was ever McGuire said Jones turned to walk back to his meeting A:i i i J ? i - * uuin ne suuueniy recognized the author's name. ACCORDING TO McGuire, after a half-hour conversation, Jones went back to his meeting and Michener said,"You know Frank, that is a very brilliant man." When Jones retired in May of 1974, it was believed that he buckled to political pressure from the USC Board of Trustees and the state Legislature, although Jones continued to deny this. He returned to MIT to take the position of vice president ior researcn ana remained there until his illness in 1979. Jones was buried in his wife's hometown of Somerset, Mass. Paul E. Grey, MIT president and one of Jones' former students, was a pallbearer at the funeral. Grey recalled Jones as a man "u/hosp inflnen^o rui generations of students and teachers will be felt for all time." The GAMECOCK ? the Potent Mwtpiptr of lt?c Univeftfcy of Sovtfc Ciwiw Md k pwhiifctd four time* a <*reek m Monday. Wwttnliyi. THwndiyt m4 hMiyi dwtag Aw Ul and e^itwg i Mwwlwi M4 M Wwjw idiy t > dml?g botfc mmmir hhIom, wMi die fmpltoa of giWty Hobday* awd (umiiulbii jtciiodt. OpWoM r^rtwfd in tU* GAMECOCK M kow of tw tdtow MMl MX tbOM ot ix IMmMy of Sotrtk tjnilm. flw IMvmky of Sotrth CifoMwa It m IW toAfd of Stwdml hMuliow Mid Cowwwiwkidowi k dw pwMhhtr of (He GAMECOCK. The Student Media k tfec pjlt?l o4 thr GAMECOCK. Change oi addrni* foam, MkKilplkM (rfktf cocrttfOtxtriKt itiowld be miM to Itw CAMtCOCK, lot SS131. Ufrivcnky trt Sew* Cxoim. Co4trabii. S.C. 1920S | $wbeci<p*o* mIm are $15.00 for om (1) I year, MM per Ul or tpring *eme?ler Md | SlJOIorboftwmwrtmlow. | Third cUm postage Mid at Columbii I >c i Hrs: M-F 10-6 Sat. 10-5 : 254-3599 swimming" pool, lake, or beach. Also, Nike and Asahi n pus. rchandise ires 7/31/81* Dr. Thomas F. Jones Jr. ATTENTION! ) B CtTTFMTiruJI ) \ HT <WI ^ ^ \ ( Cinematic Arts will move the remainder \ ( of their summer films effective Julij 23. \ / This is to accommodate improvements \ / t ^ J.L . - / in uie meaue tor this fall. / / July 23 I < I USED CARS I Atla a_C \ \ Room 327 I LITTLE BIG MAN / ( July 24 I Ba,,room \ / ?SauD I Aug. 6-7 I Baiiroom midnight express \ |\ July 28-29 I Ballr00m ) ( WARHOL'S DRACULA \ Bal,r00m | WOODSTOCK \ ( July 30-31 I Room 327 / I WARHOLS FRANKENSTIEN I \ \ Ballroom | } / Showtimes are at 6sOO pm and 8:30 pm ["2 711/ > fill seats J1.50 Mil! ) / uewl houM 5 J