Dr. Wallace L. Jones, Jr.

Dr. Wallace Lucas Jones, Jr. (90), passed away on October 7, 2018. He was born on November 17, 1927, to Verna Moore Jones and Wallace L. Jones in Charleston, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald L. Jones.
Wallace is survived by his wife of 68 years, Angylyn Swift, daughter of Mildred and Joe Swift; and two children from that marriage: son, Dr. Kyle Jones of Shreveport; daughter, Shannon Jones Raymond and husband, Dickie of Monroe. His beloved grandchildren, Audrey Jones Cox and husband, Daniel, Trey Raymond and Anna Lee Raymond; and great-grandson, Wallace Daniel Cox.
Wallace grew up in Baton Rouge, graduating from Baton Rouge High School in 1944, where he was an all-state basketball and baseball player. He entered LSU on an athletic scholarship playing both sports in 1944-45 and was a member of the L Club. He holds three degrees from Louisiana State University, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate. He directed the first statewide study of school dropouts and authored several publications on this topic. His doctoral dissertation was a historical study of “Compulsory Education in Louisiana.” Dr. Jones was a United States Navy veteran serving in World War II.
He moved to Monroe in 1966 where he was employed as an assistant professor of NLU. He was appointed Head of Department of Administration, Supervision, and Foundations in the College of Education. Wallace was the founding official in the establishment of NLU chapter of the National Education Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa and served as its first president.
During the segregation crisis and threatened boycott in Ouachita Parish, Dr. Jones was appointed chairman of the Ouachita Parish Bi-Racial Committee. Under his leadership, a compromised plan was developed, submitted and accepted by the Federal Courts which allowed schools to remain open and educating students.
Dr. Jones coached the NLU golf team for 18 years where the program improved financially and became a more international sport. He took his golf teams to tournaments in Mexico, Bahamas, and Scotland. The golf program was financed mainly through private funds by initiating a golf booster club. The ULM Golf Team partners annual award is named in his honor. A ULM golf tournament is named after Wally and was established in 2012. He was a member of the Bayou DeSiard Country Club since 1967. He and his wife traveled extensively and played golf throughout the United States.
Wallace was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA, where he was particularly fond of his Men’s Senior Bible Class.
Honorary Pallbearers will members of the ULM golf teams he coached throughout his career.
Memorial services celebrating his life will be held at 4:00 PM Wednesday, October 10, 2018, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, LA, with Rev. Lynn Malone officiating. Visitation will begin at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ULM Golf Program.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA