Don Jones - 2019
Don Jones - 2019
Don Jones, La Grange Rotary president for 2013-14, was named to the District 5870 Roll of Fame in 2018.
When Don F. Jones moved to La Grange in 2007, he promptly joined the Rotary Club. A Certified Public Accountant, Jones moved from Fort Bend County to buy the practice of a local CPA who was a longtime Rotarian and past president of the club.
When time came for Rotary’s annual hamburger booth fundraiser at the Fayette County Fair, Jones worked countless hours scheduling work assignments, cleaning the booth, leading 4 hour shifts, and ferrying supplies. He helped the club reach a new high in funds raised from the four days and nights at the booth.
Starting in July 2010, he served three terms as Club Treasurer. As an officer and board member, he constantly challenged the club to do more projects, raise more money and have more fun. He has been a Paul Harris Fellow since January 2011.
In 2013, while serving as President-Elect, Don became chairman of the annual Pancake Supper, a role he still holds. He introduced having business sponsors for the event, which now serves more than 1,800 meals in a town with a population of less than 5,000.
The Pancake Supper now nets more for charity in a single night’s work than the club raised the entire year only 10 years ago. And Jones still hands out the work assignments that assure that every Rotarian participates in the Pancake Supper.
While Club President in 2013-14, he helped bring more Rotarians to the table in the club’s scholarship grant process. He also got the club to accept oversight of the Leadership Fayette County program, which educates upcoming civic and economic leaders for the community. During his presidential year, the club raised a total of more than $20,000 for charity for the first time in its history – more than double what it had raised the year he joined the club. Besides monetary donations, Don led Rotarians in hands-on projects that year with Habitat for Humanity, the Texas Ramp Project and other volunteer efforts.
His service to humanity goes well beyond Rotary. Since 2008, he has served on the Board of Tejas Health Care in La Grange and continues to be its treasurer. He is a fervent supporter of the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter and of local live music through the Bugle Boy Foundation.
An avid sports fan, Don also manages to attend NCAA Final Four tournaments, Texas Longhorn football games, and plays a mean game of racquetball. He has served as president and treasurer of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, Fayette County Chapter.
The Rotary Club of La Grange is proud that Don F. Jones was selected for Rotary District 5870’s 2019 Roll of Fame.