Sam H. Jones Sr.

Sam Henry Jones Sr. (March 3, 1928 – March 26, 2003) was a civil rights leader and the first President of the Indianapolis Urban League. Under his leadership, the organization aimed to uplift the African American community in Indianapolis through social, economic, and philanthropic programs.

Early life and education Jones was born in Heidelberg, Mississippi, on March 3, 1928. He later attended Atlanta University and earned a Master of Arts in Sociology in 1954 and a Master of Social Work in 1956. In 1966, Jones accepted the role of Executive Director of the newly chartered Indianapolis Urban League.

Community involvement and activism Jones had a strong connection to the community and was devoted to civic leadership. He was a member of the NAACP, the concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, board of Methodist Hospital, the Metropolitan Board of Missions of the United Methodist Church, and the Boy Scouts Council to name a few. The Airport Expressway was renamed to Sam Jones Expressway by Mayor Bart Peterson in honor of Jones and his legacy.

Jones was a Sublime Prince of the Scottish Rite Masons of Indiana. He received this thirty-third and last degree of Masonry in May 1988.