Well-known nationwide for his expertise, he writes, lectures, and consults on various World War II history and defense issues.
WILMINGTON, NC, June 29, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Wilbur D. Jones Jr. with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Jones celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Jones, of Wilmington, North Carolina, is a noted business owner, military historian, and award-winning author who established Wilbur Jones Compositions LLC in 1988. Well-known nationwide for his expertise, he writes, lectures, and consults on various World War II history and defense issues. Additionally, Mr. Jones leads several North Carolina WWII history preservation projects.
A prolific writer, Mr. Jones has authored or co-authored twenty books, eight on World War II. He has also published hundreds of articles in a regional Gannett newspaper. Moreover, he has extensively researched our nation's history and national defense. His memoir was published in 2021 titled "The Day I Lost President Ford: Memoir of a Born-and-Bred Carolina Tar Heel." His latest book, co-authored, is "Terrorfliegers: How WWII American Airmen Survived German Captivity and POW Trauma."
Apart from his primary obligations, Mr. Jones has strongly advocated preserving history throughout Wilmington, North Carolina. He co-founded and has been chairing the WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition since 2000. He was also responsible for the American World War II Heritage City project by collaborating with the state's congressional delegation, which was subsequently named a national preservation program after being signed into law in March 2019 by former president Donald Trump. Moreover, Mr. Jones has been active on various advisory boards, including for the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, the New Hanover County Public Library, and the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina, and is a member of the Wilmington (Downtown) Rotary Club and other local organizations. In 2014, Mr. Jones was appointed as the chairperson of the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission by North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
Mr. Jones notably served his country in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain after 28 years. He also accumulated over four decades of experience in the U.S. Department of Defense as a Navy officer, civilian professor, and associate dean of information at the Defense Acquisition University, which included more than seven years in the Pentagon as a captain and later as a civilian assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. His vast federal service includes as an assistant and advance representative to President Gerald Ford.
Mr. Jones graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1955. Recognizing his work, producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks used his book "Gyrene: The World War II United States Marine" as a technical reference manual in the HBO mini-series "The Pacific" in 2010. Mr. Jones has also received a multitude of awards for his work and contributions to society, including the State of North Carolina's highest, The Order of The Long Leaf Pine.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #