Left Hand Laurel – Jim Jones

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The work of a few who quietly and reliably give from their hearts becomes the powerful way in which people’s lives are touched and forever changed for the better. Jim Jones is one of those people - a humble, caring man who has joyfully provided Niwot with his energy and positivity in a whole host of ways for more than 25 years.

Jim and his wife Pat, both originally from Michigan, moved to Minnesota after college where Jim began his professional career as a software engineer for IBM. He happily took a job in less chilly Colorado Springs when IBM offered the transfer. After three years, that division of IBM closed and he and his family moved north to this area and settled into their home in Niwot in 1992. For the past seven years Jones has worked for Hewlett Packard.

Since moving to town Jones has engaged with the community through the Niwot Community Association (NCA), the Niwot Chiefs Classic Car Club, three youth sports teams, and the Niwot Sanitation District.

At the suggestion of his next door neighbor Dick Piland, Jones began participating in the Niwot Community Association (NCA).

“Anytime you live next to the president of the NCA, you get lots of opportunities to volunteer,” Jones said.

Through the NCA he has stepped up to keep citizens safe during community events that require temporary road closures. Being on the NCA road crew means Jones dedicates himself to this task five times a year.

“Jim has been a full-time volunteer on the Niwot Community Association’s ‘Road Crew’ since its inception,” Piland said. “This crew is a handpicked cadre of several men and one woman who interpret specific traffic plans for each road closure event, then transport temporary road signs to their proper location to control traffic around parade routes.“

Jones’s 1965 NASA Blue Corvette is a participant in each of the town’s parades too. The Niwot Chief’s Classic Car Club, a social club Jones belongs to, meets monthly and the group takes part in parades and car shows in the area.

Each year the NCA organizes a cleanup day for the town, where residents bring their unwanted items to a central collection area and the NCA either disposes of or recycles the waste appropriately. Jones has helped with this event for many years.

He has also been a financial supporter of the Niwot Children’s Park by contributing to the construction fund. In honor of his wife who passed away three years ago, he has donated two benches – one at the children’s park and one on the trail just off Overbrook Road where the couple liked to walk and run.

Hewlett Packard offers its employees the benefit of matching donations to particular organizations. Jones has opted to have them match his contributions to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association for several years.

“Niwot is such a special community,” Jones said.” I love the small town feeling and it’s been a great community for our kids to grow up.”

The Jones’s children, Daniel, Ross and Anna, all attended Niwot Elementary, Sunset Middle School, and Niwot High School. For nearly 10 years, he coached their basketball, baseball and softball teams through Niwot Youth Sports.

Jones recently joined the board of directors for the Niwot Sanitation District. He attends monthly meetings to assist with any issues that might impact area residents.

His kids and four grandchildren are a big part of his life. He enjoys their time together and often helps them with home projects. He’s a runner and, thanks again to his neighbor Piland, he has just added another sport to his repertoire – fly fishing.

“Jim is most deserving of this recognition.” Piland said. “He has been a dependable and reliable servant to our community - even taking time off work to help out. He rarely misses an event and even volunteers the use of his Toyota pickup to help transport traffic control items. His easy-going demeanor and friendly attitude helps to bolster the morale of everyone with whom he volunteers.”