WorldWide Drilling Resource

There was only one ~ Al Jones An honored tribute to my husband, my friend 07/03/1931 ~ 10/14/2014 Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones Managing Publisher This is Ronnie’s Real World... May you rest in peace, baby... As I sit here trying my best to write this, it is the hardest thing I have ever had t o do i n my entire life. I see his photograph on my screenand remem- ber all the good times and the not- so-good times, but that is truly a life to behold. He would say, and has, “If we lost everything and had to start over again, living in a tent, we would make it.” We have truly had a full life together for some 40 plus years, one that had everything in it: boats, horses, 4-wheelers, motorcycles, house build- ing, tractors, friends, and businesses. We could not have asked for more. Except I feel I could ~ Just one more day. Please bear with me as I let you know Al was his own man and was doing what he wanted to do when he left us forever - but will remain in our hearts far longer. I returned home from a trade event Saturday evening, October 11, as I normally would by calling him from the Suburban phone giving him a heads up. He had the Schnauzers in his lap and my drink in the refrigerator waiting for me. The next morning (October 12) at breakfast, he would ask, “What’s on your agenda for today?” We wound up working on the back deck of our home; me cleaning gutters and him using his pole saw to trim overhanging branch- es. Yes, at 83 he was doing it all! An unbelievably strong man both in his will and his abilities, that was Al Jones. You could never stop him from doing what- ever he wanted to. As always, I was taking photos of him “doing whatever project he wanted to” and sending them to our sons. I would stand behind and support him using that saw. I turned to move the ladder I was using out of the way, and as I turned back around, I saw him falling backwards onto the concrete back porch, hitting his head. He had fallen before; so as always he just kept saying “Ge t me up ! ” His head bleeding, I told him I should call someone, but he demanded to get up. I got a towel for him, and ice. That was around noon and he was acting fine. I was in touch with our sons, Troy and Chuck, as they were in Tennessee on a Harley vacation trip and they told me how to watch him. Nearing 3 P.M., he wanted to get a shave and change his clothes, and I went down to feed the chickens, horses, and cats at the barn. When I returned, he wasn’t good anymore. From that point on, as the ambulance took him away from me, I knew he was not to return. He left me forever at that point. The only words (if you can call them words) he uttered, I believe was “I love you”. He was pronounced dead on October 14, 2014, in the care of Covenant Hospice at Bay Medical Center, Panama City, Florida. Many of you have met Al through this magazine and our travels around the world. His only regret would have been, we didn’t start this earlier in life, so he could travel more and have an opportunity to meet even more of you. He truly enjoyed the people in the drilling industry. Al was born July 3, 1931, in Meridian, Mississippi, to Albert Lonnie Sr. and Ollie Mae (Collins) Jones. He was a hard-working, strong-willed man from the beginning. He began working at a young age in the veneer factory in Meridian along with his father and younger brother under the direction of Mr. Howell. Then onto a sales career, he became the youngest sales manag- er at Kinney Shoes in Meridian. He was drafted into the armed forces hold- ing the rank of Corporal, in the service of his country, spending most of his time in Germany. He proudly remem- bered meeting Elvis Presley at Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey. Out of the service, he eventually resided in Gainesville, Florida, and began his career in automobiles: hav- ing worked with Shaw & Keeter Motor Company; Blount Pontiac; and AMC- Jeep. Each step took him to higher recognition. Al became Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge of Gainesville #990, and remained a life member. He and I began a cattle ranch in Chiefland, and owned a used car dealership, Bronson Auto Sales, Inc., in the late 80s early 90s. In mid-1995, we moved to a small town, Vernon, located in the Panhandle of Florida, and continued our cattle operation for some time. He began working with Howell Chevrolet in Bonifay, Florida (ironically owned by the son of his supervisor at the veneer mill in Meridian). Al truly loved the car business, and when the dealership closed, his sales skills led him to work- ing with me and the WWDR Team at WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. , Bonifay, Florida, where he became Vice President; the position he held at the time of his death; as well as work- ing side-by-side with his son Troy at Teddy Bear Timber Company in Vernon. Al was our NUMBER ONE sales person and ambassador in 2009, as WWDR had its best year ever. You never really knew you were being sold anything. It came naturally to him and everyone truly enjoyed his friendly ways. He always said, “You have to know when to stop talking because the next one to speak lost.” I remember when I asked every- one in the office to write down “why do Islamorada, The Florida Keys, 1974 Elks Lodge 66 DECEMBER 2014 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®