State grid coaches award Silver Helmet to J. Jones

The Gazette’s Jerry Jones was awarded the 2010 Silver Helmet by the Washington State Football Coaches Association. Colfax Coach Mike Morgan received the award for Jones at the association’s annual banquet Friday night at Bellevue.

“I’ve always been a sloppy typer; half of my action pictures are out of focus, and I miss a lot of the big plays,” Jones wrote in his acceptance and thank you letter. “Sports Illustrated never called.”

He has been covering Colfax and Whitman County news and sports for the Gazette for 45 years.

The award is presented by the association each year to recognize individuals who contribute to high school football.

“I can’t remember a time when Jerry wasn’t on the sidelines,” said LaCrosse Principal Doug Curtis, former long-time Colfax Coach who led the Bulldogs to their first state win at Seattle’s King Dome in 1981.

Award recipients are nominated for the award by coaches from around the state. Jones’ name was put forth by a number of current and former coaches.

“Once they got four letters it was all over,” said Coach Morgan. “I got a text on my phone telling me ‘enough! He’s it.’”

Jones began writing at the Gazette in June of 1965. Since then, Jones and a series of trusty Nikons have been regulars at Friday night football games, Saturday afternoon wrestling matches and weekend night basketball games.

In his acceptance letters, Jones said he has counted 31 times “his” teams, Colfax or Whitman League teams, have advanced to the state title finals.

“He’s definitely a fixture in Whitman County,” said Ken Lindgren, who just stepped down as Tekoa/Oakesdale/Rosalia football coach. Lindgren is another coach whose high school athletic feats, at Tekoa, were covered by Jones.

“That’s what I always like about Jerry,” said Curtis. “Whenever he interviewed us he would be constantly laughing. Sometimes I’d wonder to myself what was so funny, but Jerry’s laugh was always there to add perspective - to say this isn’t life and death.”