True to his passion, Jones completes his 51st year of teaching at the end of the 2018-19 academic year
Don Jones originally wanted to work in radio. He enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, but he spent little time as a speech major.
“We had to learn all the parts of the larynx, and that was it,” he said. “I also had this history class and teacher that just struck me. In the spring of ’61, I changed my major, and I never looked back.”
That change in major was the first step toward his journey to the University of Central Arkansas, where he has been since 1968.
Jones completed his 50th year as a faculty member in spring 2018, making him the first employee in UCA history to complete 50 years of service.
“It seems longer than that,” Jones said with a chuckle. “It’s just 50 years. I know 50 is 50, but I didn’t really think anything of it.”
Jones was recognized at the 65th annual Employee Service Awards in April 2018. At least four local media outlets featured stories about his achievement. Sen. Jason Rapert presented him with a citation, and the UCA Board of Trustees presented him with a resolution. The College of Liberal Arts established the Don Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, and Jones was the first recipient. He was featured in the 2017-18 UCA Annual Report, and of course, this magazine article.
“I’m not the kind of person who seeks out publicity. As a matter of fact, I shun publicity. I go the other direction and try to hide out,” Jones said. “I do what I do, and that’s that.”
Jones earned his bachelor’s and master’s in Louisiana. He later earned his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kansas. While there, he received a prestigious Eisenhower Graduate Fellowship from the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute.
He began working at UCA as an instructor of history. Over the last five decades, he has held a few administrative roles and was even interim chair of the history department. Still, he always came back to the classroom.
“I never got into this to be rich, and I never got into this to be in administration. I just like being in the classroom,” Jones said.
With his newfound “15 minutes of fame,” he said he has most enjoyed hearing from former students. Jones said he has received many letters, emails, telephone calls and other messages from former students congratulating him on his 50-year anniversary and thanking him for being a great teacher.
“I have cards that say, ‘Hey, we saw you’ve been there 50 years. Glad to hear you’re still there,’” Jones said.
He even keeps a special file of all the written communication he has received. Periodically, he thumbs through the messages and smiles when he reflects upon his time at UCA.
“The comments that people have made—the president, the Board of Trustees, Sen. Rapert and others—those are pretty humbling comments,” Jones said.
When asked when he will retire, he gave a slight shrug, not ready to give an exact date.
“I think about it every day. It will happen. I’m closer than I’ve ever been, but no date yet,” he said. “I still enjoy what I do, teaching and working with students.”