Rex Jones

Harold “Rex” Jones began his journey in Sidney, NE on May 12, 1937 and ended it in Wichita, KS on September 18, 2025. There were many stops along the way. The Dick and Alice Jones family of 11 children moved from Sidney to Chadron in December 1948. Rex attended Kenwood Elementary School, Chadron High and Chadron State Teachers College (as it was called then). His first teaching and coaching job was in Mullen, NE, then in Hemingford, NE, then Rushville, NE and finally back to Chadron High School where he taught, coached and became principal. Then came his dream job. From 75 applicants, he was hired as Assistant Executive Director of the Nebraska High School Activities Association in Lincoln. He had that position for 27 years, traveling all around the state conducting football, track and wrestling rules meetings for officials and coaches. Along the way he made many new friends (and hunting and fishing buddies). Other opportunities to meet lots of great Nebraska people were the state tournaments in Lincoln and Omaha (track, wrestling, football, boys and girls basketball, cross country and volleyball). He always remembered fondly, the outstanding young people he coached and taught along the way. Rex and Sharon (Franey) met in 1957 at Chadron State. They married in March, 1959, and embarked on their 66-year marriage journey. Three children came along: Jerry, Wichita (wife Lisa, children Jessica and Sam); Julie, Broomfield, CO (husband Marty Coniglio, daughters Hayley and Taylor) and Rick, Fort Collins, whom they lost to cancer in 2016 (children Jackson and Sophie). Rex loved his family dearly, with a special place in his heart for each one of them. That love always extended to his large, sprawling family of brothers and sisters, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He and Sharon hosted a few of the Jones large family reunions and he always tried to call his siblings on their birthdays. Rex was honored and humbled to be recognized for the work he loved to do: • Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame as coach of the undefeated, state champion Rushville High School 1966-67 football Golden Anniversary Team; • Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, contributor award; • Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame; • Chadron State Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the undefeated 1958 football team; • Chadron State College Distinguished Alumni Award; and • National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award. Rex and Sharon returned to Chadron upon his retirement, where he enjoyed serving on the CSC Alumni Board, Chadron School Foundation Board, playing in pitch and poker clubs, going to coffee at Helens, attending Chadron High and CSC activities and especially hunting and fishing with family and friends - old and new. A celebration of Rex’s life will be held at the Country Kitchen in Chadron, NE on Saturday, October 25th from 3:00-5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Rex to the Chadron Public School Foundation general fund and/or the Chadron State College Foundation general fund. These foundations reflect the high value he placed on education and his love for the community. Below are direct links to the Foundation gifting websites.