Posted on Apr 21, 2006

A special groundbreaking ceremony was recently held at Murray State University in the newly-constructed Science Building area for the Jesse L. Jones Clock Tower. Jesse D. Jones, a 1964 MSU chemistry and mathematics major, and his wife, Deborah, have provided two significant gifts for MSU students who major in science or math. Residents of Baton Rouge, La., the couple chose to assist in the completion of the clock tower connecting Phase II of the science complex to the Biology Building on the west end of campus, while also establishing the Jesse D. and Deborah C. Jones Scholarship for the Advancement of Math and the Sciences. Jones, who retired from Albermarle Corporation following a career with assignments in research, development and sales technical service, wanted to pay homage to his childhood roots in Marshall County and to his alma mater which provided him with an excellent education. “I do believe in the profession of physical sciences and the professional career opportunities that are available. I have had a great experience, and providing opportunities for others is my goal in creating the scholarship and contributing to the completion of the clock tower.” Jesse D., the son of Jesse L. Jones, 93, and the late Margarette Gregory Jones, acknowledges his father’s instrumental educational guidance through naming the clock tower in his honor. “I credit my father with the appreciation he taught us for math,” Jones said. “He always played math and arithmetic games with us, illustrating that numbers are not your enemy, but your friend.” Dr. Kern Alexander, MSU interim president, said the Jones family represent an outstanding western Kentucky family story and are carrying their story forward through their significant gift to the university. “Mr. Jones was stimulated by MSU’s math and sciences at Murray State and is now giving back,” he said. “This revered scholarship will serve as a major connector for students to complete their educations, and the clocktower will serve as a landmark tribute to the love of math and sciences and great amount of pride Mr. Jones feels for these MSU resources.” Ground was broken for the new science complex in May 2001 after the university was awarded $26 million in state funding for a facility that would provide a state of the art learning environment. A ribbon cutting was held in June 2004 for the new Phase I Biology Building that marked a new era in the teaching and learning of science at MSU. Prior to the new Biology Building, Blackburn Science Building has served as the primary science building, housing the departments of biological sciences, chemistry, and physics and engineering since the mid 1970’s. Phase II of the complex is underway and will provide additional faculty office space along with new teaching and research laboratories in chemistry. Funding for Phase II of the complex has been recently approved by the legislature and construction will begin in the near future. The completed building will be approximately 58,000 square feet in size. Current estimates project that over 700 students will be taking classes in labs once they are in full use. As the building becomes fully functional with lectures and other services being added, over 1,000 students could easily be impacted.