Ermon K. Jones, civil rights pioneer, passes away

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Civil rights activist and pioneer Ermon K Jones has passed away. He was 92.

Who is Ermon K Jones?

Jones was a lifelong resident of Neptune, N.J., where he attended Neptune Public Schools, graduating from the senior high school in 1943.

Pioneer

He would become the first Black basketball player to start for the Neptune High School.

He served in the Armed Forces, attended Monmouth University, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University, and a Master’s degree from Columbia University.

In 1951, he started his career at Fort Monmouth as an engineer, and retired in 1985 after fifteen years as head of the Fort’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity for over 5000 civilian and military personnel.

Activism

Ermon Jones had a distinguished record in education and community activism being the first African American to purchase a home in the Gables section of Neptune by successfully winning a New Jersey Supreme Court landmark housing bias decision (Jones v. Haridor Realty) that provided homeownership opportunities for blacks throughout New Jersey.

In an interview with visitmonmouth.com, Jones says his greatest accomplishment was his impact in education, housing, and employment.

“I think I have demonstrated concern and interest and a sensitivity for these three areas of life here in Monmouth County. I had the opportunity to work towards the equality of employment opportunities based upon the person’s abilities rather than his or her skin color. The second area has undoubtedly been education, which is very important, because it has had an effect upon my life and my progress, and on what I’ve been able to achieve. I think it’s a key element as far as youngsters are concerned, and this has been borne out of my many years with the Head Start program.”

Community involvement

Jones was a member of the NAACP, former member of the Neptune Township Planning Board, the Housing Authority, and the Jersey Shore Hospital Community Advisory Board. He was also frat, being a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for 68 years and served as a Trustee for Second Baptist Church of Asbury Park, N.J

He was inducted into the Neptune High School Hall of Fame in 2010, and recently received the Trailblazer Award from Neptune’s Mayor for paving the way for others.