Former Oakdale resident Wilbert Jones will be honored Saturday afternoon at Southern University for his dedication in assisting students make better lives for themselves.
Jones’ long-time friend Larry Smith said friends and members of the AUSA (Association of the United States Army) are going to recognize him He said the program will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Southern University (SU) Agricultural Extension Center in Baton Rouge. Jones and Smith attended SU and were members of the AUSA in 1968. After graduation, he found a job at SU. Smith said, “He has been employed by the university for approximately 54 years. He currently serves as assistant director of purchasing for contracts and special projects.
In the 1960s and 70s, Smith said college life was awesome. “Looking back, those were the ‘good ole days.’ While pursuing excellence, we joined the AUSA; a military organization initiated by Dean J.B. Cade. Its purpose was to prepare young men for military leadership and the nation’s defense.”
He said through AUSA, he met a “tall, slim, bighearted fellow from Oakdale, Louisiana named Wilbert Jones.” He said in 1962, Jones was about their age, but he was “resourceful and provided wise counsel to many of us. In addition he had connections in the university system. If you were willing to work, he could keep a little spending change in your pocket. In short, Wilbert was a lifeline for struggling students and provided encouragement at a critical stage in our educational development.”
Smith said this must have been Jones’ calling, because it’s something he is still doing today. He believes Jones is about 80 now. “We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
Smith described Jones as a distinguished person who was a friend to humanity and “lives in the hearts of hundreds of African Americans who walked the sacred grounds of Southern University. Given the sheer enormity of his unheralded contributions, we declare with one voice that the urgent need of our day is to have more men like Mr. Wilbert ‘Benevolent’ Jones.”
During the ceremony on Saturday, Jones will receive a framed American Flag which has been recently flown over the National Office of the Association of the United States Army and the Pentagon Building. “Oakdale has produced a great man!” said Smith.
Jones grew up in Oakdale. He was one of 10 children of Clifton and Willie Mae Jones. There were 10 children, according to his sister, Earlene, and six are still alive. He graduated from Allen High School in 1962. He is 78 today and still working. Earlene said her joke about him working and her enjoying retirement is based upon her brother never marrying or having children. She said he has the time to work and make money; she has the time to retire and enjoy it.
“He is still at Southern University,” she said. “He was always a very passionate person and always doing what he could for others. He always made himself available to help others.”
