Prankster, poet, adventurer, reader—H.P. Jones went by multiple titles. However, students at ULM knew Jones as a fun-loving history professor who always kept them on their toes. For 47 years, Jones touched the lives of every person, student or faculty, who walked into his classroom.
Past students and faculty members agree that Jones made history come alive for his students. When asked about Jones, many faculty members told colorful anecdotes and shared stories about the professor.
“During my freshman year in 2009, I had the privilege of being taught Western Civilization by Dr. Jones,” history professor Robert Wright said. “On the first day of class, he entered the classroom with an old worn black commencement gown, walking to the tune of the Rock ‘Eye of the Tiger’ theme and had a prosthetic leg filled with tootsie rolls, which he threw out as if he were in a parade.”
Professor Jeffrey Anderson recalled one memorable class, during which Jones swore to never walk through the door and hand the students a pop quiz. The next class period, Jones emerged from an open window, handing students a freshly printed pop quiz.
Another class period resulted in Jones arriving to class in a coffin carried by his graduate assistants. Jones then rose from the dead to teach his student that day’s lesson.
Jones’ unique teaching style kept students engaged in the history of the ancient Greeks and Egyptian pharaohs. He inspired the next generation of history professors with many of his former students joining the ULM History Department.
“If it has no meaning to those learning it, how can we expect them to use it?” Anderson said.
Jones loved the arts, and he made sure to spread his appreciation across ULM’s campus. He sought to instill in his students the same love of the arts, often stopping his lectures to read poetry to his students.
“Some would be on paper, and some, he would recite from memory,” Wright said. “There would even be times where Jones would tear up and become emotional as many of the poems and writings were reflective of his long life’s journey.”
After Jones’ death in 2013, his former colleagues and family began hosting the Ides of March Poetry Reading to share his legacy with current students. Each year, the poetry reading introduces more students to the life and legacy of Jones.
“His biggest legacy is the memories so many have of him,” Anderson said. “I frequently have random people reminisce about their time at ULM, and far more people mention H. P. Jones than anyone else. He was truly loved by his students.”
