Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of great Arkansas statesmen Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James Herbert “Jimmie Red” Jones of Hot springs, Arkansas, who passed away on September 1, 2008, at the age of 88.  He was a former Arkansas State Auditor and a former Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard.

I will forever remember Jimmie Red Jones as one of Arkansas’s finest.  His life was one defined by honor, leadership, service to the people of Arkansas for over 70 years.

Jimmie Red Jones graduated from Magnolia High School, Southern Arkansas University and Keegan’s School of Radio and Television in Memphis.  He attended Arkansas Law School and later received the Southern Arkansas University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988.

Jimmie Red Jones joined the Arkansas National Guard in 1938, and by the time he left active service in 1945, he had received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (which he particularly cherished), the Joint Service Medal, the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Media recognition with five Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal – along with many others.  He later rejoined the National Guard in 1947 and remained with the Guard until his promotion to Adjutant General in 1979, earning the Legion of Merit and the Armed Forces Reserve Medals.

Jimmie Red Jones returned to Magnolia after the war and sought to serve his community.  He organized the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Chamber of Commerce in Magnolia.  Governor Francis Cherry appointed him as State Land Commissioner in1955 and he was named Magnolia Man of the Year that same year.

He was also elected State Auditor in 1956 and served twelve terms.  He would later serve as Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard from 1979 to 1981 and then from 1983 to 1984.

I will especially always remember the many miles and countless hours that I spent with Jimmie Red Jones on the campaign trail while he pursued his active interest in politics serving as state campaign manager for Bill Clinton’s 1982 gubernatorial campaign. 

Jimmie Red Jones will be forever remembered in Arkansas as an inspiring example of selfless service to state and country.  I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Shirley Ledbetter Jones Colonel (Ret.); stepsons Bobby Dale Gentry of Pine Bluff, Barry Gentry of Redfield and Chan Holcombe of Fort Smith; his six grand step children and his niece and nephew.  Jimmie Red Jones will be greatly missed in Arkansas and we are all truly saddened by this loss.