Biography: Butler A. Jones

Butler A. Jones

Butler A. Jones graduated from Morehouse College in 1937, earned a master's degree at Atlanta University and a Ph.D. from New York University. Before coming to Ohio Wesleyan University, Jones taught four years at an Atlanta high school and nine years at Taladega College in Alabama. Jones taught at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1952-1969 and headed the sociology department for eight of those thirteen years. He was named chairman of Cleveland State's sociology department in 1969 and retired as professor emeritus in 1982. He also served visiting professorships at NYU, Oberlin and other colleges, and was a member of 28 professional associations.

Jones assumed leadership roles in many of those associations. He founded and served as president of the American Association of Black Sociologists and was chapter president of the American Association of University Professors in three different institutions, including Ohio Wesleyan. Jones also served as chairperson on numerous committees including the American Sociological Association, North Central Sociological Association, Society for the Study of Social Problems, the Cleveland Music School Settlement, Cleveland Community Action Against Addiction, the Delaware Civil Rights Committee and the Cleveland Federation for Community Planning.

In contributing to the quest for equality among races, Jones submitted ten briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in cases involving equal treatment of all citizens and completed background research for the 1940 Carnegie-Myrdal Study of African Americans.

Finally, Jones received numerous honors and awards, including the 1985 Lee-Founders Award, the North Central Sociological Association's Professional Service Award, the Cleveland Federation for Community Planning Distinguished Service Award and the Cleveland State University Distinguished Faculty Award for Community Service.