Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Martinsville, Virginia 24115
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The Martinsville Police Department on Tuesday named orthodontist David Jones, center, its Citizen of the Year. Shown with Jones are from left; Police Chief Mike Rogers; Wayne Kirkpatrick, president of th eboar dof the Dan River Basin Association; Jones' son, David; and his daughter, Lauren. |
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer
David Jones, who initiated the Trout in the Classroom project in area schools, was named the Martinsville Police Department’s “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” on Tuesday.
Jones, a local orthodontist, “has more than demonstrated what a huge difference one person can make to help our young people become better students and citizens in our community,” city Police Chief Mike Rogers said in presenting the award at Tuesday’s Martinsville City Council meeting.
The award is given to a city resident who has made significant contributions to the community. Recipients must have good moral character and have good relations with police, according to a council document.
Jones said he “humbly accepted the award not for me, but for the project and the real heroes” — his family and staff, the Dan River Basin Association and the “students, teachers and administrators who embraced” the Trout in the Classroom project.
Rogers explained how Jones heard a presentation on the Trout in the Classroom program in 2005.
“Excited and impressed by what he learned in that meeting, the following year Dr. Jones spent over $20,000 of his own money to purchase a total of twenty 55-gallon aquariums, related pump filters and other equipment necessary to begin the Trout in Classroom program,” Rogers said. “The hands-on program allows students to take responsibility for raising trout in the classroom and later releasing them into the Smith River. Jones has been quoted as saying, ‘the responsibility for raising the fish and the children’s interactions with them bring children alive in the classroom.’”
This year is the fifth he has funded the program. It includes 30 classrooms in Martinsville, Henry, Patrick, Franklin and Pittsylvania County Schools. Jones also has tanks set up at the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
The program has been praised by educators for helping engage disinterested students, build confidence and improve students’ grades and behavior.
“Until you attend one of the trout releases into the Smith River and witness the interest and excitement on these students’ faces it is hard to understand just how beneficial the program is,” Rogers said. “I attended one of the releases last year. After seeing the excitement in their faces and listening to their comments as the fish were being released, I have no doubt that Dr. Jones’ efforts are making a very positive difference in the education of our young people, while instilling in them the importance of having a clean environment and taking care of nature.”
Jones’ efforts have earned him the:
• William Barton Rogers Award, given by the Virginia Museum of Natural History for environment education.
• 2007 Conservationist of the Year Award from the National Trout Unlimited.
• 2007 Virginia Conservation Educator of the Year given by the State Trout Unlimited.
• 2007 Virginia Environmental Stewardship Award from the Department of Natural Resources.
• 2007 Environmental Educator Award from Field and Stream Magazine.
• 2009 Environmental Educator of the Year from the Virginia Fly Fishers Organization.
Jones also is a founding board member of the Dan River Basin Association Rivers and Trails. He serves on the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited and Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation Board.
He also has volunteered at least 20 times with the Mission of Mercy free dental clinics in the western part of Virginia as well as at the Martinsville site.
Rogers also noted that Jones often gives credit for the success of the trout program to his staff, patients, Dan River Basin Association, the Kiwanis Club and Martinsville Rotary Club.
Rogers said Jones’ efforts to help young people make life easier for police.
“It is people like David Jones who have taken an interest in our young people that help make our jobs easier when these people grow up with more respect and appreciation for things in life,” the police chief said. “It is also my belief that the efforts of anyone to get young people interested in the outdoors helps to give them other things to do in life and keep them out of trouble.”
The Citizen of the Year Award was begun by retired police chief Terry Roop in 1982. Department employees submit nominations for the award to a selection committee of seven members of the police department, who make a recommendation on the recipient to the police chief.
Jones was accompanied at the meeting by his children, Lauren and David Jones, and Wayne Kirkpatrick, president of the Dan River Basin Association board. Kirkpatrick read comments from Brian Williams of the association about Jones’ dedication to conservation locally and in the region and said he echoed those comments as well.
Council members also praised Jones and thanked him for his conservation efforts. |
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