Billie Hollis Jones is the namesake of our academy for good reason. She exercised leadership in every way and every fashion from her perch as Executive Director of the Wharton Chamber of Commerce. Billie died in 2022. She retired from the chamber in 2004.

After retirement, she was still called the ambassador of Wharton, and she even pioneered leadership training, herself. At one time, she created the old Leadership Wharton County, a predecessor of the Billie H. Jones Leadership Academy for previous generations.

Along with Leadership Wharton County, her accomplishments included serving on a regional committee developing Interstate 69, attracting medical facilities to Wharton, and being front and center in expanding our manufacturing base and building Riverfront Park.

Although she spent a lifetime corralling people to influence public policy and the big picture, she knew it was not enough. She could see beyond the horizon that future generations of leaders would be needed.

The Billie H. Jones Leadership Academy’s intention is to carry on Billie’s mission. So, it took less than a split second to decide that she would be the namesake of the Billie H. Jones Leadership Academy. We think she’d be pleased.