Charles Nicholas "Deacon" Jones (August 31, 1934 – September 7, 2007) was an American steeplechase runner.

He was a three-time AAU champion (1957–58 and 1961) and won a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games.

At the age of 13, Jones won a mile race at an intramural track meet in Boys Town, Nebraska, in a time of 4:35.

[3] The basketball team he played on made it to Nebraska's state high school championships, and was an all-state performer in football.

[6] Jones was the only American to qualify for the final heat in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase at the 1956 Summer Olympics.

It was during this competition where Jones met Cassius Clay before he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.