RICHARD HENRY "DICK" JONES

1939 - 2017

JONES, RICHARD 'DICK' HENRY
Richard 'Dick' Henry Jones, PhD, P.E., age 78, of Melrose, Florida, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2017, in Gainesville, FL after a lengthy illness. He was born January 21, 1939 in Starkville, Mississippi to the late Thomas Nelson and Elizabeth Jones. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Dr. Terese Gaboury-Jones of Melrose, his adopted son, Andre Doherty, one brother, T. Nelson Jones, Jr. and his wife Beverly, of Starkville, nephews Stan and James Jones, and niece, Christie Jones Lawrence of Irving, Texas.
Richard grew up in Starkville in a gracious Southern home that taught the importance of manners and education. A tall, lanky, handsome young man, he was quiet and introspective and enjoyed roaming the 700 acres of his father's ranch lands outside of town.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1961 and the degrees of Master of Science and PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida in 1964 and 1967, respectively. He was a member of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society and Tau Beta Pi National Honorary Engineering Fraternity. At the University of Florida, his supervising professor and mentor was Dr. A.P. Black, with whom he worked closely on a number of consulting and research projects.
Upon graduation, Richard joined the Gainesville firm of Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE), now AMEC Foster Wheeler. In 1974, Richard and Larry Olson left ESE to form Jones, Olson and Associates. In 1975, Robert Edmunds joined the firm, which became Jones, Edmunds and Associates, Inc. Today, with 160 employees, the firm is ranked in the Top Twenty Design Firms in Florida and in the Top Two Hundred Environmental Firms of all types nationwide.
Richard's expertise included domestic and industrial water and wastewater treatment, process engineering and design, in-plant waste reduction and hazardous waste management. He authored over forty environmental publications. As a consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency, he developed the NPDES discharge limitations for the sugar cane industry and the timber products industry. As a consultant to leading citrus processing firms, he developed the treatment processes used in the citrus industry.
In 1992, Richard, Robert Edmunds and Brenda Robinson, Richard's former wife, formed Trimark Properties to acquire and develop real property. Today, with subsequent partners John Fleming and Phillip Wagner, Trimark Properties owns and operates over fifty multi-family and commercial properties and is assisting in developing Gainesville's Innovation Square area. The company has grown to over 50 employees and has received numerous City Beautification Awards.
Richard was a private, but adventuresome, man and enjoyed his solitary time fishing and hunting. He took scuba diving lessons and, for his first open water dive, descended over 100 feet into an underground cave. During the late 1970s and early 1980s he travelled to Switzerland every September to hike the glaciers with family and friends. He enjoyed travelling, especially to the Virgin Islands, for sailing and snorkeling.
In 1990 Richard moved to the peaceful beauty of Melrose Bay and loved to fish on Lake Santa Fe. In recent years, he and his wife, Terese, enjoyed travelling to Honduras to inspect her property and a school the couple helped establish for young women. Also, they traveled together for pleasure in the United States and Europe.
His quiet strength, his integrity, his intellect, and his wry sense of humor will be greatly missed by his family members, friends and associates.
A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at the Milam Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alachua County Humane Society 4205 NW 6th Street Gainesville, FL 32609 www.alachuahumane.org.
Arrangements are in the care of MILAM FUNERAL AND
CREMATION SERVICES, 311 S. Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. (352) 376-5361. www.milamfh.com