Robert B. Jones was the hugely popular four-term mayor of Kalamazoo before winning election to the Michigan House in 2006.
Jones has a long and distinguished record of public service. Among them include serving as chair of the Kalamazoo Community Development Block Grant Advisory Board, a volunteer with the United Way, a mentor to elementary school students and a member of the Concerned men of Kalamazoo. Under his leadership, Kalamazoo experienced significant economic growth, attracting new investments and witnessing new development in the downtown area.
Jones is also active in state and national organizations. He has served on the executive board of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. He has also served as vice president of the Michigan Municipal league, Michigan president of the National Brownfield Association, co-chair of the Urban Core Mayors and southwest Michigan director of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
A research chemist, Jones was chemical production supervisor at Pharmacia and Upjohn in Kalamazoo for 28 years. He was a research chemist at Fort Valley State University before joining P&U.
Jones is married to Callie Baskerville-Jones. They have six children and one grandson.
In 2003, Jones received the NAACP Humanitarian Award.