James Herbert Jones

[1] Jones attended Southern State University, where he played college football, serving there as a team captain as well.

After entering active service he was trained as a bombardier and, at the end of 1943, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Jones joined the Arkansas National Guard at age 18, and remained a member for the rest of his life.

[2] Jones's political career began in 1950, with his election to the first of two terms as Columbia County, Arkansas Tax Collector.

[2] In the same time period he was a leading organizer in the Magnolia chapters of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

During this time he also served as the Southern State College Alumni Association President and other community organizations.