[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF KENNETH T. JONES, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the people of Guam 
in mourning the death of a great son of America and community leader in 
the Pacific where, for the last sixty three years, he lived, worked and 
built a business empire. Born in the small town of Willow Springs, 
North Carolina, on November 22, 1917, Kenneth T. Jones, Jr. will be 
remembered for his contributions to our community.
  ``Ken'', as he was fondly known to his family, friends and 
associates, was the consummate business adventurer, always searching 
for new opportunities and always willing to venture into new endeavors 
where he sensed success was certain. That business sense convinced him 
that prospects would arise on Guam, a small Pacific island he 
temporarily visited as a Navy Chief Petty Officer with the 25th Seabees 
during World War II. Hearing the slogan, ``Guam, Crossroads of the 
Pacific'', Ken instinctively saw great future potentials for those who 
were willing to work hard and had the spirit to succeed.
  Ken befriended Segundo ``Sy'' Leon Guerrero, a young Guamanian he met 
during his short stay on the island. Ken and Sy had many discussions 
about the future and planned for Ken's return to Guam when they would 
become business partners. But even while he was waiting for the 
opportunity to return to the island, Ken would purchase small items to 
send to Sy who sold them from his small Quonset hut in Sinajana, which 
would eventually become the first Town House Department Store under the 
partnership called Jones and Guerrero Company Incorporated, immediately 
coined ``J & G'' throughout the Pacific.
  Under the Chairmanship of Ken Jones, J & G rapidly expanded into 
several areas where Ken felt there was a need on island. After Town 
House and upon his return to Guam in 1946, J & G Repair Shop opened, a 
natural fit for Jones who was an automotive mechanic in the Seabees. 
Other businesses quickly followed: from companies which supplied 
construction materials, built modular homes and a residential 
subdivision (Jonestown) to the bottling of soft drinks (Pepsi Cola 
Bottling Co.) and J & G Payless Supermarkets. To supply his many 
companies, Ken established Pacific Navigation Company, agents for ocean 
going freight liners calling ports in Australia, Asia, the Philippines, 
China and other islands in Micronesia.
  Ken's business acumen motivated him to build Cliff Properties 
Development, one of the island's first hotels; and the Guam Hilton 
Hotel, Guam's first major chain hotel. Ken Jones' business interests 
and ventures were not confined to Guam. Ken built and operated the 
Royal Taga Hotel, the first hotel in Saipan, CNMI, as well as the Bar K 
cattle ranch in Tinian, CNMI. He operated thoroughbred race horse 
ranches and stables in Australia and the bluegrass country of Kentucky. 
He also built and operated a considerable shopping mall in his home 
state of North Carolina. Ken Jones' success as a businessman created 
within him a sense of philanthropy to which he devoted much personal 
time, effort, energy and considerable financial resources. These 
include leadership roles and membership in such organizations as the 
American Red Cross; the American Cancer Society; the Guam Chapters of 
the American Boy and Girl Scouts; the Guam Vocational Rehabilitation 
Workshop; the Boards and Trustees of several private schools, including 
St. John's Episcopal School, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam; the Guam 
Lytico-Bodig Association; the Make-a-Wish Foundation; and the American 
Heart and Lung Association.
  Ken's efforts and successes as a premier businessman have always been 
recognized by the people of Guam and the entire business community of 
the Pacific Basin. This recognition culminated in his induction into 
the Guam Business Hall of Fame on May 2, 1992. In 1994 he was named 
Guam Business News' Executive of the Year.
  Kenneth T. Jones, Jr., was a respected businessman on Guam, much 
loved by the people of Guam and our entire community. We recognize him 
for his many achievements and we commend him for his contributions to 
our community. Our community mourns his passing and we extend our 
condolences to his family and friends. Ken leaves behind his wife, 
Elaine Cruz Jones and five daughters, Vivian, Linda, Veronica, Donna 
and Ramona.

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