Jesse H. Jones
Jesse H. Jones served as director general of military relief for the American Red Cross during World War I at the behest of President Woodrow Wilson. President Herbert Hoover appointed Jones to the Reconstruction Finance Corp. and President Franklin Roosevelt named him secretary of commerce from 1940-45.
In 1908, Jones, the leading builder in Houston, was hired to construct the 10-story Houston Chronicle building at Travis and Texas in exchange for part interest in the paper. In June 1926, Jones obtained the remaining interest and became the sole owner of the Chronicle. Jones remained publisher until his death in 1956.
Jones made significant contributions to Houston and Texas, establishing the large philanthropic institution Houston Endowment Inc. with his wife Mary Gibbs Jones.
The University of Texas at Austin named its College of Communication for Jones, and his namesake appears on many Houston landmarks including Jones High School, Texas Southern University School of Business, Rotary House Hotel and Rice University’s Graduate School of Management.