Alumnus, Veteran and Basketball Enviornment Namesake John Paul Jones Dies at 100

University of Virginia graduate John Paul “Jack” Jones, a World War II veteran, accomplished lawyer and newspaper publisher – and a basketball lover, after which UVA’s John Paul Jones Arena is named – died at the age of 100, announced his family on Saturday.

“He was loved by many and he loved the Hoos,” said Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams. “I will never forget the sheer joy I got in him for UVA and our men’s basketball program at the [2019] Last four. “

Jones was born in San Antonio in 1920 to Paul Tudor Jones and Louise Allen Jones.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1941, Jones joined the US Navy and served during World War II.

In 1946, Jones entered the UVA School of Law and earned a JD in 1948. He then started a Memphis law firm specializing in interstate trade and labor law.

But Jones also had newspaper ink in his blood. Jones’ grandfather, Charles L. Berlin, helped start the Memphis Daily News – originally known as the Daily Abstract of Transfers – in 1886. Jones’ mother took over the management of the publishing house in 1909 before handing the reins to Jones in 1960 and worked for the newspaper until 1994.

Jones considered himself a “history junkie”. He had a keen interest in American history, particularly the friendship between two of America’s Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Naval Officer John Paul Jones (no relationship), which he learned about as a law student in Charlottesville.

In his retirement, Jones focused on philanthropic pursuits. He was a board member of the Memphis Literacy Council, the American Cancer Society and Future Memphis, among others.

In 1996 Jones’ sons, Paul Tudor Jones II and Peter Schutt, awarded him a scholarship to the University of Memphis School of Journalism in his honor.

Paul Tudor Jones later donated $ 35 million on his father’s behalf as the main gift to UVA’s John Paul Jones Arena, which was and continues to be considered one of the best basketball venues in the country.

In a 2016 interview with the Daily Progress, Paul Tudor Jones said his father became a basketball fanatic after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“I have no doubt he’s alive today because of Virginia Basketball and Memphis Grizzlies [NBA] Basketball, ”said Tudor Jones. “It’s literally what keeps it going.”

The John Paul Jones Arena opened on November 12, 2006. John Paul Jones accepted the ceremonial ball before the Cavalier men’s basketball team beat the University of Arizona in 93-90.

“Jack had an extraordinary love for university – and UVA basketball,” said Barry Parkhill, Virginia’s assistant sporting director for development. “He always had that special twinkle in his eyes. He was a great American. “