Butte honors sheriff for service

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones will be recognized at the Butte College Foundation's spring gala as an alumnus who has made a difference.

Jones will be honored along with fellow Butte College alumnus Kelly Candaele, the award-winning writer of "A League of Their Own," about his mother's experience as a professional baseball player in the All American Girl's Professional Baseball League.

International fashion show hairstylist Teri Dougherty and architect Steve Gonsalves, a principal with Nichols, Melburg and Rossetto, a Northern California firm, are also being honored.

"The college will recognize four outstanding alumni who have truly demonstrated excellence in community service and their professional areas of expertise," said Butte College President Kimberly Perry. "There are over 500,000 alumni touching lives not only in our community, but also statewide, nationally and even internationally."

Jones is the second Hamilton High graduate to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award recently. It is presented annually by the Butte College Foundation in recognition of outstanding personal and professional achievements.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle M. Lohse received the award in 2009.

Jones said he was humbled by his nomination and is proud to be in such good company as the other recipients.

"It truly is an honor," Jones said.

The gala on March 23 is the main fundraising event for the Butte College Foundation to support student scholarships and athletics programs.

"As a community we have an opportunity to help students achieve their dreams," said Julie Boss, Butte College Foundation co-chair.

Jones grew up in Glenn County and attended Butte College after high school in 1969.

At the time, the college was located in portable buildings in Durham, he said.

Jones did not immediately plan law enforcement as a career. He studied physical education, criminal justice and agriculture at Butte College before transferring to California State University in Chico, where he completed his bachelor's degree.

Jones entered the Glenn County Sheriff's Department in 1974 as a trainee and was sent to the College of the Redwoods for his law enforcement training.

He was consistently promoted during his 30 years with the department, and was appointed to fill the vacancy created in 2005 by the retirement of Sheriff Bob Shadley.

Jones was elected to the post in 2006 and 2010.

"With almost 40 years of experience in law enforcement, Sheriff Jones is recognized throughout the public safety industry in California," stated Perry, in announcing the Alumni Award recipients. "Sheriff Jones is one of the few, if not only sheriff's showing such dedication to an agency."

In addition to being a alumnus of Butte College, Jones has been involved in the advanced firearm training of cadets attending the past 28 to 30 Butte College Law Enforcement academies.

Jones said Butte College has turned out some of the best law enforcement officers in the state.

Among those are veterans who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan war, Jones said.

Tickets for the Butte College gala are $100 and can be obtained by calling 895-2359 or email foundation@butte.edu.

CONTACT Susan Meeker at 934-6800 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.