Robert E. Jones Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 1965 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama | |
| In office January 28, 1947 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | John J. Sparkman |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Flippo |
| Constituency | 8th District (1947–1963) At-large (1963–1965) 8th District (1965–1973) 5th District (1973–1977) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Emmett Jones Jr. (1912-06-12)June 12, 1912 |
| Died | June 4, 1997(1997-06-04) (aged 84) |
| Party | Democratic |
Robert "Bob" Emmett Jones Jr. (June 12, 1912 – June 4, 1997) was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from the8th district ofAlabama. He was the last to represent that district before it was removed as a result of the1970 United States census. Presently there are seven U.S. House districts in Alabama.
Robert Emmett Jones Jr. was born on June 12, 1912, inScottsboro, Alabama, inJackson County. He attended public schools and theUniversity of Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama law department on January 7, 1937, and was admitted to the bar the same year. His early years saw much legal work in Scottsboro. Jones was elected judge of Jackson County Court in July 1940 then reelected in absentia in May 1945 where he served until October 1946. Jones served in theUnited States Navy as a gunnery officer in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters from December 1943 until February 1946.[1]
Jones first entered the United States Congress by special election in 1947 when he was elected as a Democrat to the seat vacated byJohn Sparkman who had been elected to theU.S. Senate. In 1949, he actively supported the Housing Act of 1949, and played a key role in Section V of the bill which provided money for rural farm housing. He also supported the renewal of the act in 1961.[2] He advocated legislation that led to the Federal Highway Act of 1956, which helped create the modern interstate system. Having been a signatory to the 1956Southern Manifesto[3] that opposed the desegregation of public schools ordered by the Supreme Court inBrown v. Board of Education. Jones voted against theCivil Rights Acts of 1957,[4] theCivil Rights Acts of 1960,[5] theCivil Rights Acts of 1964,[6] and theCivil Rights Acts of 1968[7] as well as the24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution[8] and theVoting Rights Act of 1965.[9]
Jones was an advocate for the economic development of north Alabama, and supported military,NASA, and Tennessee Valley Authority projects in his district. Jones served as Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee.[1] Jones served 14 consecutive terms until his retirement on January 3, 1977.[10] Jones was not a candidate for reelection in 1976. His papers are housed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.[11]
Among his legislative achievements was his principal sponsorship of theFederal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. He was also instrumental in passage of the 1965Appalachian Regional Development Act.[10]
Bob Jones High School inMadison, Alabama, is named in his honor, as is the Bob Jones Bridge over theTennessee River in his native Scottsboro.
Jones died June 4, 1997, in Florence, Alabama.[1][12]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 8th congressional district 1947–1963 | Succeeded by District eliminated |
| Preceded by District inactive | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's at-large congressional district 1963–1965 all representatives elected at-large on a general ticket | Succeeded by District inactive |
| Preceded by District inactive | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 8th congressional district 1965–1973 | Succeeded by District inactive |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 5th congressional district 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Blatnik Minnesota | Chairman ofHouse Transportation Committee 1975–1977 | Succeeded by James J. Howard New Jersey |
| Public Buildings and Grounds (1837–1947) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Harbors (1883–1947) | ||
| Roads (1913–1947) | ||
| Flood Control (1916–1947) | ||
| Transportation and Infrastructure* (1947–) | ||
| Note | * Alternately namedPublic Works in 80th through 93rd Congresses andPublic Works and Transportation in 94th through 103rd Congresses. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
