University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

Page 18 text:

1 11 I This year we take great pride in dedicating our 1944 Volunteer to Judge Robert M. Jones, a man who has faithfully served this uni- versity for over a quarter of a century. Known affectionally to both students and faculty as The Judge, Judge Jones has attained the heights to which few men ascend, yet in spite of this he has remained, still, The Great Humanitarian, an attribute so desirable, yet so seldom found. As a result of such a spirit when any student needs guidance, encouragement, or is con- fronted with any difficult problem, the solution is often found in the familiar expression, I'll talk it over with the Judge. As a scholar of the law, it is conceded by both young and old that he has no superior being represented in Who's Who in Law for the past twenty years, and twice judge in our Chancery Courts. Likewise, as an instructor and guiding spirit, he is equally renowned, having the respect and esteem of all those students with whom he comes in contact. Although pages could be written concerning such a useful and honorable life, we would conclude, in a word, that by his scholarly mind, untiring energy, and unsurpassable kindnesses, not only this Uni- versity or the City of Knoxville, but the entire State of Tennessee, shall long be indebted to a noble man and outstanding scholar, for the great contribution which he has made both to our University and to our State.

Page 20 text:

 emember him? I do and I'm sure you will too, because he was a student here at the Hill not so very long ago. It seems only yesterday when he crammed all night for that final exam and then walked down to Briscoe's for that early morning cup of coffee. He was really a swell fellow and loads of fun—even though he never did pass that course in Organic Chemistry. He was like most of us; took life for granted—until that day when he got those Greetings from the President. Yes, he was called to active duty along with lots of other fellows we used to know. It didn't take long to make a soldier out of him; he learned war and he learned it well because he knew it would be a fight to the finish when the real test came. He learned to be rough and brutal, kill or be killed—things were suddenly dif- ferent. It was then that he no longer took life for granted. It became something real and precious. The time finally came when he was ready and they sent him across. He lived through the heat of the Solomons, the cold of Kiska and he was there when Tunis was stormed. Kill or be killed! It was a pretty tough thing to do at first because he had always heard about world peace and the brotherhood of man. But when a question would come up in his mind he would think about all of us still at home and it seemed as though he was responsible for our safety and the safety of the world for years to come. He would grit his teeth and try a little bit harder. Finally one day when he was in the thick of things his number came up. He died in a slit-trench somewhere over there. When his buddies removed his rifle from his dying clutch, they found eleven notches in a neat little row on its stock. He had accounted for his share of those !--! Jerrys and Japs before they got him. And we won't forget his part in the unfinished business.