[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 46 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. T. MARSHALL JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 1, 2011

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
gentleman, a scholar, a master musician, a teacher, a community leader, 
a mentor, a family man, a man of God, and my friend of long standing, 
Dr. T. Marshall Jones. His life is an example of how one person can 
make a difference when carrying out God's purpose for his life.
  Dr. Jones grew up in rural Virginia where his visually impaired uncle 
introduced him to music at age five. While other students his age were 
engaging in athletic endeavors, Dr. Jones was quenching his thirst for 
music--as a child he would often ride three miles to his piano lessons.
  Dr. Jones graduated from Virginia State University and the University 
of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is a U.S. Army Veteran, serving 
for two years as a member of the 284th Army and 74th Army bands. Dr. 
Jones served as a band director at Lapeer State Training School in 
Lapeer, Michigan. His association with Albany State College, now 
University, began in 1963 as the director of bands. He took a leave of 
absence from teaching in 1972 to earn his doctorate of music education 
degree from the Oklahoma School of Music.
  After his return, he was named acting chair of the music department. 
In 1980, when the music, art, speech and theatre departments combined 
to form the Department of Fine Arts, Dr. Jones was named the first 
chairman. After 33 years at his beloved Albany State University, Dr. 
Jones retired. But the fire for teaching still burned in his heart, so 
he stayed on for 14 more years as an adjunct professor, retiring in May 
of 2010.
  There is no doubt that Dr. Jones loves music, but more importantly, 
he loves people. It has been said that, ``Service is the rent that we 
pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Not only has Dr. 
Jones paid his rent in the field of music, but he has also paid his 
tireless service to the community. He is a dedicated member of the Mt. 
Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where he plays a key role in the music 
ministry. He is a member of the Gamma Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha 
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he plays a leading role in the 
fraternity's mentoring efforts that have reached the lives of thousands 
of young men.
  Because of his efforts in music and other endeavors, Albany State 
University dedicated their 2010/2011 Fine Arts Lyceum and Performing 
Arts Series in his honor--an honor that was well earned, and well 
deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of another person who has done more for 
the arts in Southwest Georgia than Dr. T. Marshall Jones. But, his 
accolades do not belong to him alone. If not for the dedicated love of 
his wife, Mary and his family, he would not have been able to bless us 
abundantly with his love for music and people. To God be the glory for 
blessing us with a man as talented as Dr. T. Marshall Jones.

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