Beloved member of the Raider Family Run Run Jones has passed away.
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DeMarcus Davis, Staff Writer Raiderfans.net
Friday December 22, 2005
Oakland Airport Hilton/OAKLAND, CA - George Run Run Jones, born in Coal Valley, Illinois on October 26, 1929, left his home at the age of 15 and joined the circus, served in the Navy and spent a year as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War campaign. Jones also appeared in such movies as “Fireball” with Mickey Rooney, “The Last Time I Saw Paris” with Elizabeth Taylor, and “The Caddy” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Before George Jones landed a job with the Raiders, Jones was the star of the Bay Bombers Roller Derby team where he got the nickname “Run Run”. Former derby announcer Dick Lane gave the name Run Run to Jones because Jones would skate so fast, it would look like he was running in his skates.
Despite emotional and tearful remembrance eulogies from Fred Biletnikoff, Marcus Allen, and Shane Lechler, the vast majority of the memorial was filled with good memories, funny stories, and peppered with outbreaks of uncontrolled laughter.
Perhaps the most tearful speech came from former Raider Marcus Allen who touched on the fact that he had just lain to rest the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and now is remembering another close friend in Run Run Jones. Allen, as with Shane Lechler and Biletnikoff often lost the battle of fighting back the tears when thinking their close friend.
One of the funnier moments came when Shane Lechler shared a story about Run Run. The two were about to take the field for the pregame warm-ups and Run Run would come up to Shane and ask him if he thought the Raiders would win today. Shane would pause and say, YES! Then Run Run would reply by saying, Good...then that would only make the two of us, so I’d better go around and start asking some more people! The whole room burst out in laughter.
There was a very funny and touching video tribute that included John Madden, Tim Brown, Jeff George, Bruce Allen, and Bob Casulo. Each would tell a short story on how they feel about Jones and shared one of a plethora of funny moments.
Many were on hand to pay homage to Run Run. Nearly the entire Raiders team and the franchise’s staff were on hand as well as family, friends, and Raider fans. The room was filled to the max and only standing room was left. Some 300+ were in attendance. Among the well wishers today were Chester McGlockton and Bill Romanowski.
The closing remarks by Jones’ son, Tom Jones (and sister present), were both tearful and full of appreciation. To cap his speech, he and his sister would pull a couple of bottles of beer from under the podium and toasted them to the crowd in a befitting tribute and gesture to the fallen Run Run Jones. The crowd laughed heartily, stood, and applauded. Shortly after, the sound of several police motorcycles could be heard revving their engines with sirens blazed as they sent Run Run off with a bang. All awhile the song "My Way" by old Frankie Blue Eyes played over the P.A. Run Run surely did things "His Way" which so epitomized both he and the "Raider Way" of doing things.
Here’s to you Run Run. You will be missed.
DeMarcus Davis, Staff Writer Raiderfans.net
Friday December 22, 2005
Oakland Airport Hilton/OAKLAND, CA - George Run Run Jones, born in Coal Valley, Illinois on October 26, 1929, left his home at the age of 15 and joined the circus, served in the Navy and spent a year as a Prisoner of War during the Korean War campaign. Jones also appeared in such movies as “Fireball” with Mickey Rooney, “The Last Time I Saw Paris” with Elizabeth Taylor, and “The Caddy” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Before George Jones landed a job with the Raiders, Jones was the star of the Bay Bombers Roller Derby team where he got the nickname “Run Run”. Former derby announcer Dick Lane gave the name Run Run to Jones because Jones would skate so fast, it would look like he was running in his skates.
Despite emotional and tearful remembrance eulogies from Fred Biletnikoff, Marcus Allen, and Shane Lechler, the vast majority of the memorial was filled with good memories, funny stories, and peppered with outbreaks of uncontrolled laughter.
Perhaps the most tearful speech came from former Raider Marcus Allen who touched on the fact that he had just lain to rest the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and now is remembering another close friend in Run Run Jones. Allen, as with Shane Lechler and Biletnikoff often lost the battle of fighting back the tears when thinking their close friend.
One of the funnier moments came when Shane Lechler shared a story about Run Run. The two were about to take the field for the pregame warm-ups and Run Run would come up to Shane and ask him if he thought the Raiders would win today. Shane would pause and say, YES! Then Run Run would reply by saying, Good...then that would only make the two of us, so I’d better go around and start asking some more people! The whole room burst out in laughter.
There was a very funny and touching video tribute that included John Madden, Tim Brown, Jeff George, Bruce Allen, and Bob Casulo. Each would tell a short story on how they feel about Jones and shared one of a plethora of funny moments.
Many were on hand to pay homage to Run Run. Nearly the entire Raiders team and the franchise’s staff were on hand as well as family, friends, and Raider fans. The room was filled to the max and only standing room was left. Some 300+ were in attendance. Among the well wishers today were Chester McGlockton and Bill Romanowski.
The closing remarks by Jones’ son, Tom Jones (and sister present), were both tearful and full of appreciation. To cap his speech, he and his sister would pull a couple of bottles of beer from under the podium and toasted them to the crowd in a befitting tribute and gesture to the fallen Run Run Jones. The crowd laughed heartily, stood, and applauded. Shortly after, the sound of several police motorcycles could be heard revving their engines with sirens blazed as they sent Run Run off with a bang. All awhile the song "My Way" by old Frankie Blue Eyes played over the P.A. Run Run surely did things "His Way" which so epitomized both he and the "Raider Way" of doing things.
Here’s to you Run Run. You will be missed.