Mayor Jones receives honorary degree
Friday May 2, 2008
Jones goes from last in the class to top of the heap
by Matthew Thompson
Daily Mail staff
In 1968, Danny Jones graduated last in his class at George Washington High School.
He then bypassed college, worked at a filling station for a year and was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.
Now, after 40 years and various careers, Charleston's mayor is finally getting a college degree.
On Sunday, Jones will receive an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Charleston at the school's spring commencement ceremonies.
Jones, 57, is one of three people who will receive honorary degrees. The others are Adjutant General Allen Tackett of the West Virginia National Guard, and Dr. William Hamm, president of the Foundation for Independent Higher Education in Washington, D.C.
Jones said he was thrilled when contacted by the university.
"I never received any kind of degree like this," Jones said. "I'm not a college boy."
After he came home from the war in the early 1970s, Jones tried college a couple of times.
He attended Marshall University for a year and West Virginia State for a semester.
Jones said he has about 40 or 50 hours of college credit.
But he really wasn't interested in being a full-time student.
"I was always too busy," Jones said. "I was a restaurant guy. I was more interested in making money."
In the 1970s, Jones and Otis Laury were partners in a popular downtown restaurant called No. 8 Capitol Street.
Later he established Danny's Restaurant on Capitol Street and Danny's Rib House in Nitro.
Jones was Kanawha County sheriff from 1984 to 1988, a member of the House of Delegates from 1988 to 1990, Charleston director of emergency services in 1995 and communications director for the state Department of Transportation in 1997.
He hosted a daily talk show on WQBE-AM off and on during the 1990s.
Jones was elected mayor in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007.
UC President Ed Welch said Jones has been a tremendous supporter of the university and has helped it grow.
Welch said the honorary degree selection process includes a meeting with faculty members to discuss a list of possible candidates.
The list is then passed on to the school's board of trustees for a final vote.
"Danny Jones has demonstrated a genuine commitment to Charleston," Welch said. "He wants Charleston to be a better place."
Welch said Jones has been helpful in getting school enrollment up 52 percent in the past two years and with the school's new building projects.
"The city chose to cooperate with us," Welch said. "We appreciate his leadership and support."
The commencement ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eddie King Gymnasium. In all, 167 students will be receiving degrees.
Welch said Jones will be decked out in a black cap and gown just like the other graduates.
He will also wear a hood around his neck, which is worn by all students receiving graduate and masters degrees.
Jones said his wife, Sara, will attend.
His two sons, Jarrett Laury and Andrew Laurance, will be at home. Jarrett Laury is 19 months and Andrew Laurance is 3 months old.
"They're too small for something like that," Jones said.
Jones said he's grateful to the university.
"I feel very honored by it," Jones said.
Then, Jones joked about what he plans to do with the degree.
"Now I might try and get a real job."
Jones goes from last in the class to top of the heap
by Matthew Thompson
Daily Mail staff
In 1968, Danny Jones graduated last in his class at George Washington High School.
He then bypassed college, worked at a filling station for a year and was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.
Now, after 40 years and various careers, Charleston's mayor is finally getting a college degree.
On Sunday, Jones will receive an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Charleston at the school's spring commencement ceremonies.
Jones, 57, is one of three people who will receive honorary degrees. The others are Adjutant General Allen Tackett of the West Virginia National Guard, and Dr. William Hamm, president of the Foundation for Independent Higher Education in Washington, D.C.
Jones said he was thrilled when contacted by the university.
"I never received any kind of degree like this," Jones said. "I'm not a college boy."
After he came home from the war in the early 1970s, Jones tried college a couple of times.
He attended Marshall University for a year and West Virginia State for a semester.
Jones said he has about 40 or 50 hours of college credit.
But he really wasn't interested in being a full-time student.
"I was always too busy," Jones said. "I was a restaurant guy. I was more interested in making money."
In the 1970s, Jones and Otis Laury were partners in a popular downtown restaurant called No. 8 Capitol Street.
Later he established Danny's Restaurant on Capitol Street and Danny's Rib House in Nitro.
Jones was Kanawha County sheriff from 1984 to 1988, a member of the House of Delegates from 1988 to 1990, Charleston director of emergency services in 1995 and communications director for the state Department of Transportation in 1997.
He hosted a daily talk show on WQBE-AM off and on during the 1990s.
Jones was elected mayor in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007.
UC President Ed Welch said Jones has been a tremendous supporter of the university and has helped it grow.
Welch said the honorary degree selection process includes a meeting with faculty members to discuss a list of possible candidates.
The list is then passed on to the school's board of trustees for a final vote.
"Danny Jones has demonstrated a genuine commitment to Charleston," Welch said. "He wants Charleston to be a better place."
Welch said Jones has been helpful in getting school enrollment up 52 percent in the past two years and with the school's new building projects.
"The city chose to cooperate with us," Welch said. "We appreciate his leadership and support."
The commencement ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eddie King Gymnasium. In all, 167 students will be receiving degrees.
Welch said Jones will be decked out in a black cap and gown just like the other graduates.
He will also wear a hood around his neck, which is worn by all students receiving graduate and masters degrees.
Jones said his wife, Sara, will attend.
His two sons, Jarrett Laury and Andrew Laurance, will be at home. Jarrett Laury is 19 months and Andrew Laurance is 3 months old.
"They're too small for something like that," Jones said.
Jones said he's grateful to the university.
"I feel very honored by it," Jones said.
Then, Jones joked about what he plans to do with the degree.
"Now I might try and get a real job."