Dr. Billy M. Jones had a long and distinguished career, beginning as an excellent athlete and taking him all the way to the presidency of Memphis State University. Jones’ playing days began at San Angelo State Junior College in Texas, where as a football player he was selected Williamson All-American in 1947. He also won the Texas Junior College Athletic Association Broad-Jump Championship. After transferring to Vanderbilt, Jones lettered in football and track for two seasons and won the Tennessee Intercollegiate Athletic Association Broad-Jump Championship for two years. Jones then began his teaching and coaching career at Nashville’s Hillsboro High School in 1950, where he was head football coach for two seasons and head basketball coach for four years. His basketball teams won three district championships, the Nashville Interscholastic League championship once, and a regional championship one year. He racked up an impressive basketball coaching record at Hillsboro of 93-23. Jones then went on to Middle Tennessee State University, where he was an assistant football coach for four years, including during the 1957 undefeated season that ended with an NAIA championship. His coaching days concluded after two seasons as assistant football coach at Texas A&M. Just as he had done as a player and coach, when Dr. Billy M. Jones became President of MSU, his winning ways continued, and he distinguished himself as a true leader.
