Hayes Jones
Encyclopedia
Hayes Wendell Jones (born August 4, 1938) is a former American
athlete, winner of 110 m hurdles at the 1964 Summer Olympics
.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan
, Hayes Jones was quite short for a hurdler (only 5 feet and 10 inches), but his outstanding speed, great start, and nearly perfect technique won him many championship titles.
Jones burst onto the international athletics scene by winning the 120 yd (109.7 m) hurdles in 1958 AAU
championships. He won four more AAU titles: 1960 and 1964 in 110 m hurdles and 1961 and 1963 in 120 yd (109.7 m) hurdles.
In 1959, Jones, as an Eastern Michigan University
representative, won the NCAA
titles in 120 yd (109.7 m) and 220 yd (201.2 m) hurdles, following his first major international experience, when he won the 110 m hurdles at the Pan American Games
.
A year later, at the Rome Olympics
he was third behind teammates Lee Calhoun
and Willie May
, after which many observers believed he had reached his peak performance. But he returned to the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo
, where he won the gold medal and his teammate Blaine Lindgren
won the silver. Jones also ran on a 4x100 m relay
team that set a world record
in 1961.
After retiring from competition, Jones became New York City
's director of recreation in 1967. He has also worked in American Airlines
and owned his own baggage check-in service at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
In 2006 he left Oakland County to run for State Representative in Pontiac, Michigan to finish the term vacated by newly elected Pontiac Mayor Clarence Phillips and to win a full two year term starting in January, 2007. Jones was on the primary ballot twice; the first to finish the term left vacant by Phillips, and second, to be the Democratic candidate for the full two year term in the general election. Oddly Jones won the right to be the Democratic candidate for the remainder of the two months left on Phillips' term while Tim Melton will be the Democratic candidate for the full two year term.
On July 1, 2007 Jones assumed the position of General Manager of SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
), the public transit operator serving suburban Detroit, Michigan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, winner of 110 m hurdles at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, Hayes Jones was quite short for a hurdler (only 5 feet and 10 inches), but his outstanding speed, great start, and nearly perfect technique won him many championship titles.
Jones burst onto the international athletics scene by winning the 120 yd (109.7 m) hurdles in 1958 AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships. He won four more AAU titles: 1960 and 1964 in 110 m hurdles and 1961 and 1963 in 120 yd (109.7 m) hurdles.
In 1959, Jones, as an Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
representative, won the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
titles in 120 yd (109.7 m) and 220 yd (201.2 m) hurdles, following his first major international experience, when he won the 110 m hurdles at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
A year later, at the Rome Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
he was third behind teammates Lee Calhoun
Lee Calhoun
Lee Quincy Calhoun was an American athlete, a double winner of 110 m hurdles at the Olympic Games....
and Willie May
Willie May
Willie May is a retired American hurdler.He won the silver medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. May ran 13.99 in that race and was beaten by Lee Calhoun, another American, who ran 13.98....
, after which many observers believed he had reached his peak performance. But he returned to the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where he won the gold medal and his teammate Blaine Lindgren
Blaine Lindgren
Blaine Lindgren was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 110 metre hurdles.He competed for the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan in the 110 metre hurdles where he won the silver medal.Lindgren was the first to cross the finish line, but because he leaned too...
won the silver. Jones also ran on a 4x100 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
team that set a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in 1961.
After retiring from competition, Jones became New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's director of recreation in 1967. He has also worked in American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
and owned his own baggage check-in service at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Politics
From January 2005 through March 2006, Jones served as the director of the Oakland County Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs.In 2006 he left Oakland County to run for State Representative in Pontiac, Michigan to finish the term vacated by newly elected Pontiac Mayor Clarence Phillips and to win a full two year term starting in January, 2007. Jones was on the primary ballot twice; the first to finish the term left vacant by Phillips, and second, to be the Democratic candidate for the full two year term in the general election. Oddly Jones won the right to be the Democratic candidate for the remainder of the two months left on Phillips' term while Tim Melton will be the Democratic candidate for the full two year term.
On July 1, 2007 Jones assumed the position of General Manager of SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation ' is the public transit operator serving suburban Greater Detroit. Beginning operations in 1967 as the "SouthEastern Michigan Transportation Authority" or "SEMTA", it operates 44 "linehaul" and three "park-and-ride" bus routes in Wayne,...
), the public transit operator serving suburban Detroit, Michigan.