2005 Woodrow Jones JR. Woodrow Jones, Jr., 58, professor of political science and dean emeritus in the College of Liberal Arts, passed away Tuesday morning November 22, 2005 in College Station. He was born February 28, 1947 in McKenzie, TN. Jones came to Texas A&M University in 1988. He served as associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts in 1989, interim Dean from 1993-1994 and Dean from 1994-2001. He was the first black dean appointed at Texas A&M University. As Dean, he placed great emphasis on infusing the liberal arts programs with as emphasis on diversity and internationalism. Woodrow was a co-founder of the Texas Association of Deans of Liberal Arts and Sciences (TADLAS), serving as president during the 1999-2000 academic year. He earned his master's degree and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oregon. He also held a master of public health degree from the University of Texas School of Public health in Houston, and a B.A. degree in political science from the University of New Mexico. Woodrow was a member of many professional organizations including the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, the Conference of Minority Public Administrators, and the National Forum of Black Public Administrators. "He was loving, true and honest" his mother Florence stated. "He was a giving person, always ready to help others who couldn't help themselves". Woodrow was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at College Station Medical Center after collapsing during a walk near his home. He had received aheart transplant last year, but doctors recently told him that he was in good health, said his wife, Mary Wolf. An expert of health policy, Jones became dean for the College of Liberal Arts in 1994, making him the highest-ranked minority in the predominantly white university's first 118 years. He used the position to promote diversity in the student body and faculty ranks. "Barriers are broken when people come together to work for a common goal," Jones said after his appointment as dean. "I can't change everything, but I can be part of the process by offering insights that lead to change." Ben Crouch, a sociology professor who worked closely with Jones as an associate dean, said, "He felt very strongly about the underdog, and he was very concerned about fairness. He was in a role as dean to express those concerns forcefully." Jones also championed the role of liberal arts, describing the college as "the heart and soul" of the university, which is known more for engineering and science. Every Texas A&M graduate must pass through the College of Liberal Arts, he reminded administrators, regents and donors before asking for more support. "He always felt A&M was missing an opportunity by not building theliberal arts more," said Ray Bowen, the university's president from1 994 to 2002. During his tenure, which ended in 2001, Jones added degree programs in American studies, telecommunications and music, and laid the groundwork for the university's admission to Phi Beta Kappa, a prestigious academic organization. He also helped to launch the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. At the dedication of the school in 1997, the former President Bush acknowledged "Dr. So-and-so and Dr. So-and-so on the dais, and then he came to Woody and just said Woody," Wolf said. "It was not that they were close. But if you met Woody, you didn't have to be formal. Woody was Woody." Jones attended the University of New Mexico on a football scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree. He received master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Oregon and a public health degree from the School of Public Health at Houston. Jones came to Texas A&M in 1988 from San Diego State University. He wrote extensively about minority health care, health policy and planning, and environment health policy. Jones returned to work one month after his release from the Dallas hospital where he received the heart transplant. This fall he taught courses in contemporary political problems and issues, and urban politics. "A heart transplant is miraculous in some sense, but it is no guarantee that you will live until you're 90," Crouch said. In addition to his wife, Jones is survived by two daughters, Kamilah and Halimah; agrandson, Torrence Woodrow; his parents, Woodrow and Florence Jones Sr. of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two brothers, Leon Jones of Albuquerque,N.M., and David Jones of California. He is preceded in death by his brother, Ernest Jones.

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