The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former Longhorn Sports Information Director Jones Ramsey passes away
07.19.2004 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- Jones Ramsey, who served as Sports Information Director at The University of Texas from 1960 through 1982, passed away Monday morning at the age of 83.
Ramsey, a veteran of more than 30 years in the college sports information field, worked for nine years at Texas A&M before taking the job at Texas in December of 1960.
In his time, he served as sports publicist for two legends of the game, College Football Hall of Fame members Darrell Royal and the late Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Ramsey's hallmark was always his effort to service the media, whether by quickly answering his daily mail or as the ultimate host through his trademark hospitality to visitors to Austin.
He worked with two Heisman trophy winners, John David Crow at Texas A&M in 1957 and Earl Campbell at Texas in 1977, plus countless all-conference and All-American honorees.
Ramsey came to Texas in time for the 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl after his predecessor and fellow leader in the field Wilbur Evans resigned to join the staff of then Governor John Connally. At the time, he was only the third SID in the history of the school.
Shortly after his 62nd birthday in February of 1983, Ramsey announced his retirement and his assistant of 15 years, Bill Little, was named to replace him.
Ramsey was a former president of the national association of college sports information directors (CoSIDA). He was given the association's coveted Arch Ward Award for service to his profession in 1982, and is a member of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame.
He served as a member of the NCAA Public Relations Committee, and for 13 years was part of a blue-ribbon committee of SID's chosen to help run the NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament.
He was a native of Ponca City, Okla., and a graduate of Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State). Prior to joining the staff at Texas A&M, Ramsey worked as a sports writer for the Stillwater (Okla.) News Press.
The memorial service for Jones Ramsey will be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Funeral Home at 6100 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin.
