Edward Jones

2005 Bandmasters Hall of Fame Inductee

     Edward Francis Jones (The Music Man, the Maestro, Dr. Jones, Mr. Jones, a legend), age 87, was born in Morrisonville, Illinois and passed away on Monday, October 15, 2019, after a short battle with cancer.

     He is survived by his spouse, Rhonda, and children Lynn, Steven, Lea; his stepchildren Lynn and Lana; and seven grandchildren; his brother, Paul Jones and sister, Kate Davis, sister-in-law Nancy Jones, and nieces and nephews.

     He proudly served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953, performing with the Sixth Army Band in San Francisco, California. He was a licensed pilot and enjoyed flying.

     Beginning in 1957, Mr. Jones taught instrumental and choral music in the Plainfield school system at all levels, including high school theory and harmony. He served as the division chair person for fine arts at Plainfield High School and was coordinator of fine arts for grades K - 6. After retirement in 1994, Mr. Jones was the band director at Cheney Monge School and Cresthill for seven years. He taught band and general music at Saint Mary Immaculate Parish School in Plainfield and retired in 2006. Prior to coming to Plainfield, Mr. Jones was Graduate Assistant and Assistant Conductor of Bands at Illinois State University where he received both Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees (instrumental major, choral minor).

     Mr. Jones has had numerous conducting assignments and guest appearances, including summer sessions at the University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University. He sang with the Donald Armstrong Choral Ensemble, the Joliet Chamber Choir, the New Classic Singers, and currently sang with the Ecclesiastical Choral Society, the Naperville Men’s Glee Club, and the Joliet Junior College Chorale and Chamber Singers.

     Ed served as district chair person and secretary - treasurer for the Illinois Grade School Music Association for 35 years, having just retired on June 30, 2019. He was president of the Illinois Music Educators Association from 1971 to 1973 and state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association from 1969 through 1970 and again in 1980 through 1984 and was past president and past treasurer of the Mid America Competing Band Directors Association.

     He loved Door County, Wisconsin, and vacationed there every summer for years, enjoying family and friends.