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2008 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 346
Celebrating the life of Myron Boyd Jones.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 8, 2008
Agreed to by the Senate, February 14, 2008

 

WHEREAS, Myron Boyd Jones of Virginia Beach, a respected citizen and beloved professor at Norfolk State University, died on January 19, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Myron Jones was born in Gloucester on November 3, 1909, received his bachelor’s degree from what is now Hampton University, and earned a master’s degree in mathematics and a doctoral degree in science education from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones was a high school principal in Maryland before moving to Virginia to become principal of Central High School in Goochland County in 1938; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones served his country in the United States Army as a member of the 93rd Signal Company, 93rd Infantry Division in the South Pacific and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1946; and

WHEREAS, after leaving the military, Dr. Jones was an instructor in mathematics at West Virginia State College before joining Robert R. Moton High School in Farmville as principal in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones, supportive of a quality education for all of his students, was terminated as principal in 1951, when his students staged a walkout to protest the deplorable conditions that existed at Robert R. Moton High School, and the episode resulted in the famous lawsuit Davis v. Prince Edward County that became a part of the Supreme Court's landmark desegregation decision in Brown v. Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones went on to serve as professor of mathematics at Alabama State College and Maryland State College before returning to Virginia to become professor of mathematics and physics and department head at Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville; and

WHEREAS, a skilled and experienced professor who inspired his students to achieve, Dr. Jones joined the faculty of Norfolk State University as professor of mathematics in 1963 and later became a department head and division chair; and

WHEREAS, after a long and distinguished career, Dr. Jones retired as professor emeritus in 1979, and his beloved Norfolk State University honored him with its Roy A. Woods Outstanding Teacher Award; and

WHEREAS, because of his dedication to education and his love for teaching, Dr. Jones continued to tutor students after retirement, and he served his community as a board member of the Virginia Beach School Board and the Governor's Magnet School for the Arts; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones gave his time and talents to many civic organizations over the years, including as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 200+ Men, Sigma Pi Phi, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Phi Delta Kappa and as a board member of Berkley Citizens Mutual Savings and Loan Association, Norfolk Teachers Association Federal Credit Union, and Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jones was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, where he served as vestryman and Sunday school teacher, and he was active in Plumbline Ministries at Saint Paul Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, Myron Jones will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his beloved wife Inez D. Jones; his daughter Charlene Marchant and his three sons Myron, Robert, and Eric Jones and their wonderful families, especially his nine grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends; and his students and colleagues at Norfolk State University; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Myron Boyd Jones; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Myron Boyd Jones as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.