March Forward - Honoring the Remarkable Steve Jones

One of the greatest recognitions that North Carolina Senior Games, Inc. can bestow upon an individual is inclusion as part of the select Honorary Board of Directors.   Primarily reserved for elite individuals that assisted NCSG in our program’s formative years, the Honorary Board recognizes extraordinary contributions to our statewide Senior Games program.

2020 was certainly an extraordinary year and we all faced (and continue to face) many challenges.    Determining how to continue forward was a significant question -- and longtime Senior Games family member Steve Jones of Durham spent countless hours volunteering his time to create and implement Virtual State Finals.

As Dr. Beth Wilson, of the NCSG Nominating Committee, noted, “Steve had the willingness, expertise, equipment, and time to consult with staff and take the lead in assuring that virtual State Finals became a reality. Countless hours he provided in staging with his own equipment, recording, producing and editing the Celebration of the Games, Follies, and awards presentations.”   Truly, this remarkable gentleman displayed a level of commitment, dedication and love for Senior Games and its participants that is unparalleled!

And why would Steve undertake this incredible project?    He explained in his own words: 

“For nearly 35 years I have had the joy of being involved with the North Carolina Senior Games. My introduction to senior games was as a volunteer in high school with the Region "L" Senior Games (now the Down East Senior Games). While at East Carolina University, I was a staff volunteer with the Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games and later served as a Local Coordinator of the Yadkin Valley and Unifour Senior Games, 

Thanks to Alice Keene with Pitt County Community Schools and the Greenville Pitt County Senior Games, I began volunteering at the North Carolina Senior Games State Finals in the early 1990s as a member of the Facilities Team. I still volunteer with this group today and more recently I have also been assisting with the Cheerleaders Showcase, Celebration of the Games and the SilverArts Follies. 

As both a volunteer and a Local Coordinator, Senior Games have always been a labor of love for me. Having the opportunity for over thirty years to cheer on and encourage senior athletes and artists is one of the most inspiring, rewarding and gratifying experiences that I have had the privilege of being a part of.”

Steve Jones is a true role model for service to others, a real representative of the Spirit of Senior Games and a shining example of the values embodied by the Honorary Board of Directors.   Congratulations, Steve, and thank you!!