Tribute in Honor of Orvil Jones' Retirement from Highland Park High School

TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF ORVIL JONES' RETIREMENT FROM HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL—HON. PETE SESSIONS (Extensions of Remarks - March 03, 2004)

HON. PETE SESSIONS
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2004

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make my tribute to Orvil Jones of Highland Park High School on the occasion of his retirement. I have the pleasure of representing Highland Park High School in Congress, and I am proud to have four alums from Highland Park High School on my staff, and two of them that played football under Coach Jones.

Coach Jones has been a fixture at Highland Park High School for 36 years, and he will be leaving behind a great legacy of service to his students and players. Jones started his career with the Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD) in 1968 as a mathematics teacher and coach at Highland Park Junior High. When ninth grade was moved into the high school within the HPISD, Coach Jones joined the faculty of Highland Park High School in 1970 and has been coaching and teaching there ever since.

During his tenure with Highland Park High School, Coach Jones worked under seven head coaches, eleven principals, and four school superintendents. His day in and day out work ethic will be greatly missed by his fellow coaches and the players that he instructs.

Highland Park's football team has historically been one of the best programs in the State. Highland Park ranks fourth in the State for all-time victories with 637 and is fifth in all-time playoff victories with 62.

Most recently, Coach Jones coached the defensive secondary for Highland Park's varsity football team, and his players considered him to be the hardest working coach on the staff. Coach Jones taught his players that, whether or not they are blessed with the most natural talent, they can succeed by working harder than their competition. Coach Jones provided the perfect example of hard work by always being the first coach to have his players in the film room or on the field and by working with his players on the field even after the other coaches and players had retired to the locker room.

While Coach Jones has made a lasting impact on thousands of students and players, his family has been the center of his attention. I congratulate the Jones family, his loving wife Elaine and their three children and two grandchildren, on this momentous occasion.

I commend Coach Jones on his proud career of service that spans five decades within HPISD, and I wish him and his family all the best for a nice start to a well-deserved retirement.

END