Paul Jones (1996) - Hall of Fame

Paul Jones

Induction:
1996
Class:
1938

As UNI's very first football all-American, Paul "Jonesy" Jones has been immortalized in Panther football history. He was a star end for head coach Clyde Starbeck from 1935-1937, earning North Central All-Conference honors twice.

A gritty 180 pounder, he was named to Williamson's 1937 Class Two All-American first team as a senior. The football field wasn't the only place he excelled. In 1936, he found time to become an Intramural Wrestling Champion and was also a Blue-Key member. He served as president of the "I" club from 1937 to 1938, and also was on the Inter-Fraternity Council those same years.

After graduation from UNI in 1938 with a degree in physical education, Jones coached football at Correctionville, Iowa until 1940. He spent the following year on the sidelines at Adair, Iowa, and then went on to coach in Spencer, Iowa, until 1942.

His coaching career came to an end however, when World War II intensified. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and served until 1946. A First Lieutenant, he spent two years in the South Pacific, earning the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. After the war, he returned to farming near his hometown of Aurelia, Iowa, and retired in 1980.