Hall of Fame

Ralph W.E. Jones

  • Class
  • Induction
    1992
  • Sport(s)
    Administration
  • Grambling State
Early life & education
  • Ralph W. E. Jones was born on August 6, 1905, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
  • His father, John S. Jones, was the first dean of Southern University (an HBCU in Baton Rouge).
  • He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern University in 1925 and went on to obtain a master’s degree in mathematics from Columbia University.
  • He was named after the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson — his mother reportedly owned all of Emerson’s works.
Career at Grambling State University
  • He began his association with Grambling (then known under earlier names) in 1926, teaching chemistry, physics, mathematics, and other courses.
  • In 1936, he became the 2nd President of Grambling (then for example the “Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute”).
  • He held this presidency until his retirement in 1977 — a span of about 41 years