Billy Mac Jones

Billy Mac Jones (April 5, 1925 – October 27, 2007) was an American historian, coach, and academic administrator. He served as the eighth president of Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) from 1973 to 1980, and previously as the fifth president of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, from 1969 to 1973. In 1998, the University of Memphis named the Billy Mac Jones Advancement Building on its campus in his honor.

Early life and education Jones was born in Abilene, Texas, on April 5, 1925, the younger of two sons of Andy and Faye Barton Jones. He moved to San Angelo, Texas, as a teenager and attended San Angelo College, where he earned junior college All-American honors as a football player. His studies were interrupted by service in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. After the war, he returned to San Angelo College and was recruited to play football at Vanderbilt University on a scholarship.

Academic career

Early positions Jones joined the faculty of San Angelo College in 1959 as chairman of social science, before pursuing doctoral studies at Texas Tech University, where he was also an instructor. In 1963, he returned to Angelo State University as chairman of the history department and dean of students. He was formally inaugurated in May 1974. As president, Jones created the university's first development office and worked to broaden the university's base of support and raise the quality of its academic programs. In 1979, the NCAA placed the university's athletic program on a two-year probation. He stepped down in 1980 and was succeeded by Thomas G. Carpenter.

Wichita State University After leaving Memphis State, Jones joined Wichita State University as an endowed professor in the College of Business Administration, holding the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management from 1980 to 1992. He also served as dean of the Barton School of Business in 1990–91 and was named distinguished professor emeritus in 1993.

Writing Jones wrote 22 books over his career, including histories of the American Southwest, academic textbooks, and biographies of entrepreneurs published in the Wichita State University business heritage series.

Personal life and death Jones was married to Doris Jane Hudson Jones, who predeceased him, and later to Dorothy Robinson Gaye Jones. He and his first wife endowed a University of Memphis scholarship in memory of their son, Russell A. Jones, a university graduate who died in a 1994 car crash. Jones was a member of the Johnson Street Church of Christ in San Angelo. He died in San Angelo, Texas, on October 27, 2007, at the age of 82, survived by his wife, three sons, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.