Tributes streamed in from leaders of Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) following the Aug. 3 death of Sid Jones, 71, former president of Home State Bank, a 41-year resident of Jefferson who spearheaded GCDC as its president for several years and played a key role in a number of organizations in the community and across the state as well.
Current GCDC president Scott Weber, Sid’s successor in that position, said, “I always admired Sid’s leadership, and that when he spoke it was after careful thought and consideration. Sid had a special leadership trait that folks would gravitate towards, and want to be a part of the mission and goals he set out to accomplish for his organizations.
“Sid’s lasting impact, from business to community to family, will live on for generations to come. We all owe Sid a debt of gratitude for what he has done for our community.”
Remarks by other GCDC leaders echoed Weber’s comments. In the words of GCDC vice president Kristin Russell, “The word ‘leader’ is far too insignificant to describe Sid Jones. His down-to-earth poise, the larger-than-life ideas that he somehow made a reality, and the way he could quietly captivate a room with the strength of his words made me proud to know him. He welcomed me to the GCDC team several years ago, and his constant support was something I’m incredibly grateful for.
“His last email to me included a line I plan to repeat to myself when it comes to big projects and facing adversity—‘Just BELIEVE and teach others how!’”
Former GCDC president and longtime Midland Power development activist Norm Fandel said, “It was a great pleasure to work with Sid in dreaming, planning and executing projects to keep Jefferson and Greene County moving forward. Sid was always looking into the future, 5-10-15 years out, to develop a plan, develop a team, and assemble action items, timeline and strategy.
“If the project didn’t develop we moved onto another project. It was great to work with Sid on several projects, but also to know him as a neighbor and a friend. We will greatly miss Sid on the GCDC board.”
A decade ago Jones developed the Vision 2020 strategic planning project to improve the county’s attractiveness to young families, several goals of which have come to fruition. He also initiated the Multifamily Resource Center, now underway in conjunction with Greene County Community Schools, to encourage young families of all ethnic backgrounds to consider Greene County as a place to work and live.
Recently Jones worked with the GCDC leadership team and its interim executive director Michelle Book to select a new management direction for the organization, helping the current officers to develop an affiliation with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) and successfully promote the idea to the GCDC board.
A few years ago Jones received the Tower of Fame Award for outstanding community service.
Rick Morain, former Jefferson Herald editor-publisher and a longtime GCDC activist, said one of Jones’s significant accomplishments was to make sure that the leadership and direction of GCDC were on a strong footing after he stepped down from its presidency.
“Scott Weber, Kristin Russell, and new GCDC manager Greg Piklapp of the Ames organization are seasoned leaders who will carry on Sid’s style of thoughtful, patient community development guidance,” Morain said. “He was a great friend and a futurist with whom it was a pleasure to work. I look forward to the bright future for the county toward which Sid helped to steer us for many years. He will be much missed by so many of us.”
~Rick Morain
