LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – (News release from Texas Tech Athletics) <\/p>\n
For decades, Texas Tech fans have made \u201cThe Jones\u201d one of the most intimidating homefield advantages in college football.<\/p>\n
The Jones name will continue to ring out for decades to come as Texas Tech formally announced Thursday the naming of its student seating as \u201cThe Jones Student Section at Galaxy Stadium.\u201d The announcement was delivered by Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt to a sellout crowd during the annual Red Raider Club Kickoff Luncheon at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor all President Jones and his wife Aubrey accomplished during Texas Tech\u2019s early years, we found it only fitting to recognize the impact he made on generations of Red Raiders by naming our student section in their honor,\u201d Hocutt said. \u201cThe legacy the Jones family left on Texas Tech will never be forgotten, and we\u2019d encourage our students to pack \u2018The Jones\u2019 every game this year as we continue to make Galaxy Stadium one of the best gameday environments in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas Tech previously announced in July a landmark 15-year agreement with Galaxy to rebrand the home of Red Raider Football as Galaxy Stadium beginning with the 2026 season. The stadium was originally named Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium in 1947 after the family\u2019s original gift helped establish an early foundation for both the university and the football program.<\/p>\n
Once nicknamed \u201cWest Texas\u2019 No. 1 Citizen,\u201d Jones was a vocal leader in pushing for a state college in West Texas, eventually leading to Texas Tech\u2019s founding in 1923. Jones became a member of the first board of directors for then Texas Technological College and was named the board\u2019s chairman in 1927. Jones, despite not having a college degree, was later tabbed Texas Tech\u2019s third president in 1939, a role he would flourish in until resigning in 1944 after 21 years of service to the university.<\/p>\n
During his tenure as president, Jones became a popular figure on campus, raising Texas Tech\u2019s profile as the third-largest state university by enrollment. Jones helped Texas Tech increase student housing and paved the way for generations of future Red Raiders in growing what was still a young university. Even after his retirement, Jones served the university as president emeritus until his death in 1972.<\/p>\n