[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24900]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO W. FRANK JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 2009

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good 
friend and an important public servant. W. Frank Jones recently retired 
after 14 years as Executive Director of the Marion County Economic 
Development Commission. His leadership and devotion will certainly be 
missed.
  Frank Jones was born in Marion County in the farming community of 
Gapway. Although he loved growing up on a farm, Frank knew early on 
that he didn't want to follow his parents, Ernest F. Jones and Nina 
Brown Jones, into the family business.
  After graduating from Mullins High School, Frank enlisted in his 
local National Guard unit in December 1953. On October 1957, upon 
graduation from Palmetto Military Academy, he was appointed an armor 
officer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 263rd Armor in the South 
Carolina Army National Guard. He served in this battalion through 
December 1982, with assignments ranging from Company Commander to 
Battalion Executive Officer and Battalion Commander. From December 1982 
through March 1986, he was assigned to the State Area Command, where he 
served as Deputy Commander, Detachment 1 (Troop Command) from June 1983 
to September 1984. He became Deputy Commander of the 218th Heavy 
Separate Brigade in March 1986.
  Frank received numerous federal and state awards and decorations 
during his 40 years of service to the National Guard. He eventually 
retired from the Army National Guard after he rose to the rank of 
Brigadier General in the Army National Guard where he commanded the 3rd 
Brigade of the historic 1st Infantry Division.
  General Jones also demonstrated his commitment to serving his 
community in other ways. From 1966 until 1982, he served on the Mullins 
City Council and was Mayor pro tem in 1981-1982. Professionally, he 
pursued a career in banking receiving degrees from the South Carolina 
Bankers School, the Louisiana State Graduate School of Banking, the 
Commercial Lending School of the University of Oklahoma, and the State 
University of New York at Albany. He went to work for Davis National 
Bank of Mullins, and in 1981, he became the bank's President and CEO, a 
position he held for 13 years. Frank decided to embark on another 
career as Executive Director of the Marion County Economic Development 
Commission. He also furthered his education by completing an economic 
development course at Georgia State University in 1995.
  Frank's tenure at the Commission was marked by difficult 
circumstances. Marion County historically had an agricultural-based 
economy. With the decline in tobacco farming, the county became a hub 
for textile manufacturing. Subsequently the textile industry suffered 
big losses as jobs were moved overseas and plants were closed leaving 
large unemployment in the county.
  Frank did a tremendous job attracting diverse smaller industries to 
the county, which helps protect against the devastation the county 
suffered when its two previous economic engines collapsed. He also grew 
Marion County Progress, an organization made up of local business 
leaders that help drive economic development in the area, from a 
handful of people to members.
  Throughout his life, Frank has remained connected to his community. 
He is a member of Mullins First Baptist Church where he serves as 
Treasurer, teacher of adult men's Sunday School, and Deacon. He is a 
member of the Mullins Rotary Club, and is a past President. He has also 
served as Chairman of the Board of Visitors at Francis Marion 
University, and is a past Director of the S.C. Bankers Association. 
Frank is a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian 
honor bestowed by the Governor of South Carolina.
  He is married to Joann McCumber Jones. The couple has two children 
Charles Jones and Karen Grice, both of Marion, and five grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Frank Jones on his retirement and thanking him for his 
years of service to Marion County, the State of South Carolina and our 
nation. He has dedicated his life to helping his community and it is a 
much better place because of his tremendous contributions. I wish Frank 
well in retirement, and know he will remain an active part of the 
Marion County community.

                          ____________________