David Jones ‘61

Baseball-Football - 1958-61

David Jones is among a talented group of former athletes from Florida who helped Benedict College’s athletic program rise to new heights in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  He relentlessly pursued excellence as a member of the Tigers’ football and baseball teams.

Jones was a big, physical player who performed outstandingly at end with both the offensive and defensive football units from 1957 to 1960.  He had great hands and ability to run after catching a pass.  When opponents had the ball, he loved to lead the charge and deliver ferocious hits.

Jones was voted Benedict College’s most improved football player in 1958 and received the “Hustle Award” in 1960 when the team won seven games and lost two, achieving its best record in decades.  Under new Coach Willis Bracy, the Tigers were victorious in games against Lane, Morris Brown, Knoxville, Bethune-Cookman, Savannah State, Miles and South Carolina State.  Defeats were suffered in games with Florida A&M and Allen University.

Following his stellar college career, Davis Jones served as a teacher and head football coach at Ridge Hill High School and Ridge Spring Monetta High School in Aiken, Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, and C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia.  He received “Coach of the Year” awards three times during his career and was selected to coach in the 1989-90 Annual North-South Game.  He has proven himself as a winner by helping hundreds of young athletes obtain college scholarships, including his own son who is enjoying ten years as a player in the National Football League.