George Hilton Jones III

George Hilton Jones III, D. Phil (Oxon) (1924–2008) was an American Rhodes Scholar, historian, college professor, and author of numerous works on English history.

Early life Jones was the descendant of a prominent Louisiana family, his grandfather, Dr. John Welch Jones, having been superintendent of the Louisiana State Insane Asylum at Jackson, Louisiana. Jones was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 11, 1924, to Judge William Carruth Jones and pianist Elizabeth Fly Kirkpatrick, formerly of Natchez, Mississippi. He was baptized at the First Methodist Church (now First United Methodist Church) of Baton Rouge, where his mother was a member.

Jones was the fifth of five children.

West Point

Jones was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1941. He attended the military academy for a year. He scored 288 in mathematics, 38 in French, and 19 in English. His class rank was 552. A broken leg forced him to withdraw from the academy after one year.

Military service

Jones was enlisted in the United States Army on 9 December 1942, but he was not called for active service until 7 April 1943. His serial number was 18 246 970. He was sent to Camp Roberts, California, where he was assigned to the 97th Infantry Division. His military specialty was “rifleman, code 745”. The division departed the United States on 19 February 1945 and arrived at Le Havre, France on 2 March 1945 and briefly saw action in Germany and Czechoslovakia before the end of hostilities in Europe. A photograph shows Jones in uniform with other soldiers in Germany. He arrived back in the USA on 25 June 1945.

Jones was honorably discharged from the United States Army on 15 November 1945 at the LaGarde General Hospital, New Orleans with a certificate of disability. He was honorably discharged with the rank of private first class and entitled to a Good Conduct Medal, an American Theater Medal, and EAME Theater Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal. Jones was credited with 4 months and 7 days of foreign service.

Undergraduate studies

Jones then enrolled at Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge where he joined the Zeta Zeta chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon social fraternity, where his three older brothers also were members. He was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. He studied modern European history and took his B. A. degree in 1947.

Jones resided at 1530 Third Street, Charleston, Illinois, published by Casa Editrice Leo S. Olschki of Florence. after a graveside ceremony officiated by Rev. Doctor Richard Gates of the First Presbyterian Church.