Birthday bash: Former Mayor Jones honored with proclamation, key to city

Nov. 9—DANVILLE — Two weeks before his 85th birthday, numerous family, friends, past and current city employees and community leaders paid tribute to former Mayor Bob Jones on Tuesday.

It was only fitting that a reception and honor at the Danville City Council meeting took place in the building named after him, the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, in Danville.

Jones, longtime businessman and Danville's longest serving mayor, said he was surprised and humbled by all the people attending the three-hour reception, and his recognition at the council meeting. Jones served as mayor for 16 years, starting in 1987.

Jones also this year celebrated owning and operating Dairy Queen in Danville for 40 years.

In 2015, Jones told the Commercial-News his 16 years as mayor went by fast. He felt very fortunate and blessed to serve as mayor.

People have trust in you, Jones said.

"The job is not always easy," he said.

Jones said they were trying to figure out where they were going when he started, with transitioning into a mayor/alderman form of government.

Highlights of his time as mayor included new jobs and factories including McLane Midwest, AutoZone, Alcoa, Central States Distribution Center, Sygma and Fiberteq.

State Sen. Judy Myers, Rep. Bill Black and Vermilion County grant monies made possible the new interchange at Lynch and I-74, which opened up new land for development.

The arena was renovated. The community came together for a new library and the war museum. The city saw veteran memorials, the soccer complex at Winter Park and new playgrounds. New bridges were reconstructed. Route 1 was expanded with grant money.

At Tuesday night's Danville City Council meeting, Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. read a proclamation for Jones.

It read "Whereas, Robert E. Jones served as Vermilion County Treasurer from 1978-1987; and whereas, he was elected Mayor of Danville in 1987, re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999 and stands as the longest-serving mayor in Danville history; and whereas, he played a crucial role in reorganizing the city administration and operations to better meet citizens' needs after the change in government; and whereas, Mayor Jones worked with Vermilion Advantage, Vermilion County and state officials to encourage growth of existing business and the location of new firms and investments in the city; and whereas, without his tireless efforts, major employers like AutoZone Distribution Center and retailers like Lowe's and Walmart would not be here; and whereas, Mayor Jones has also been a successful businessman himself, having run Colonial Parkway for 25 years and the Main Street Dairy Queen for 40 years; and whereas, Mayor Jones has been actively involved in various boards and committees, giving generously of his time and talents as a member of the Lions and Rotary Clubs and as a 33 Degree Mason, playing a crucial role in the establishment of the Children's Dyslexia Center of East Central Illinois; and whereas, on Nov. 20, 2023, Mayor Jones will celebrate his 85th birthday and we wish to honor him for decades of exemplary service to our community."

"Now, Therefore, I Rickey Williams Jr., Mayor of the City of Danville, do hereby perpetually proclaim Nov. 20th as "Mayor Robert E. Jones Day" in the City of Danville and urge all citizens to join me in honoring him by extending our thanks and gratitude for his dedication and contribution to all of us on this special day."

Williams also presented Jones with a key to the City of Danville.

Jones thanked Williams and the city council members.

"This is a very great honor and I appreciate it," Jones said. "It's kind of a big surprise. I can't thank enough people for all the help that I got, down through the years. When you're in this position as the mayor, you can't do it all by yourself. I had a lot of help, a lot of people that jumped in and helped see that we had a good government. That our new government, of aldermen and strong mayor, were successful, and a bunch of them are still here this evening with us that have helped make Danville a better place to live. And I know it's been a struggle, not only in the years we were there, but we had the cooperation of all of our aldermen, or our men and women that worked for the city and did an outstanding job. I just can't thank all of you enough for what you've done to make Danville a better place to live. Thank you very much."

Jones also told the aldermen, "it's a great responsibility all of you got to take care of our city and it's a never-ending job. We appreciate the good job that you all do and the dedication you make to our town. Thanks again. Thank you."

Williams thanked those who put the recognition for Jones together including Judy Henk, Jones' longtime administrative assistant, and Jeff Sirratt.

There was cake and punch at the reception, and tables of photos and political memorabilia from the past of Jones, and also scrapbooks of newspaper articles during his years as mayor.

Among those in attendance were Jones' niece and nephew from Virginia and Pennsylvania.

At the reception, Danville Public Works employee Robb Dietzen told Jones that the mayor and city have been good to his family.

Jan Nicholson, who was a classmate of Jones since the third grade at Daniel Elementary School, said Jones was going to turn 85 before she will.

"I'm not there yet. I have a month to go," she told him.

Jones told her they have such wonderful memories growing up in Danville. There are lots of great memories through the years, he said.

Others came up and wished Jones "Happy Birthday" and thanked him for all his years as mayor.

Jones said growing older happens and you can't do anything about it.

Jones said everyone was making his upcoming 85th birthday pretty special.