JACKSONVILLE, AL — Jacksonville Mayor Mark Jones was recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), receiving the organization’s prestigious Officials’ National Citation during the 107th NFHS Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The national award honors Jones for more than 30 years of service and leadership in high school athletics, particularly his contributions to officiating and official development throughout Alabama.
Jones began officiating Alabama high school athletics in 1979 and spent decades working multiple sports. He officiated baseball through 1990, football through 2007 and basketball through 2014, gaining experience at every level of competition, including state championship events.
From 2016 to 2020, Jones served as the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) Director of Officials, overseeing the registration, training, scheduling and administration of officials across all AHSAA sports. His responsibilities also included coordinating officials for championship competitions throughout the state.
In addition to his work with the AHSAA, Jones served as Director of Recreational Sports at Jacksonville State University for 32 years. During that time, he also taught sports officiating classes for 28 years, helping prepare future generations of officials.
Beyond athletics, Jones has remained active in public service, serving as Jacksonville City Council President before being elected mayor. Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous civic and recreational initiatives benefiting the Jacksonville community.
Jones was recognized during the NFHS Summer Meeting alongside former AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese, who was inducted into the NFHS National Hall of Fame.
The NFHS Officials’ National Citation recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to high school sports officiating through leadership, education and service.
