Ronald L. Jones

Ronald Jones, a longtime teacher, coach and principal at Mehlville Senior High School died Dec. 21, 2010 at St. Anthony’s Hospital. He was 70. Mr. Jones spent more than 34 years in the field of education, most notably 30 years at Mehlville Senior High School, where he finished his career as Head Principal.

Mr. Jones joined Mehlville Senior High in 1966 as a social studies teacher and a 9th grade basketball coach.

A few years later, he was promoted to head the physical education department at Mehlville. During that time, he also coached golf and boys’ gymnastics, including coaching the gymnastics team to the Missouri state title in 1974.

In 1978, Mr. Jones was named assistant principal for Mehlville, a position he held until he was promoted to Head Principal in 1985. He served as Head Principal for 11 years, the longest tenured Head Principal at Mehlville Senior High, until his retirement in 1996, which marked more than 30 years of employment with Mehlville School District.

The school and district honored Mr. Jones in 1997 by renaming the gym at Mehlville Senior High School the Ronald L. Jones Gymnasium.

The special memorial plaque that hangs at the entrance to the gym states “Ronald L. Jones, Dedicated to Students.”

Mr. Jones was born in Logansport, Indiana, July 9, 1940. He graduated from Logansport High School, where he excelled at basketball, football and track.

After spending two years at Fountain Valley School, a prep school for the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO, Mr. Jones was appointed to the Air Force Academy.

In 1961, Mr. Jones followed his eventual to-bebride, Nancy Jane Erbs to St. Louis. Mr. Jones attended Washington University, where he also played basketball and was named 3rd team All American in 1963 and 1964.

After marrying Erbs in 1963, Mr. Jones became a graduate assistant, assistant basketball coach and assistant trainer for Washington University, where he received his Masters Degree in Education. He later became a full time faculty member teaching physical education at Washington University, before moving along to Mehlville.

Mr. Jones lived at the same house in Mehlville from when he started with the district in 1966 until his recent death. Ronald and Nancy Jones have two sons, Brian (currently residing in Oakville) and Kevin (in Manchester).