Have you been on tours of Norfolk's historic Elmwood Cemetery or Cedar Grove Cemetery led by our own Steve Jones? If you did, you know about Steve’s love of history which began when he was in high school His first job was at the local library where he read the book Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago. This book led him to an interest in World War II and history in general.

 

Although he was born in Texas, Steve attended high school in Delaware, Ohio, a town which he describes as “Norman Rockwell Americana.”  In a town of 20,000, the high school football team would have 3,000 fans in the stands including Steve, who played trumpet in the marching band.  

 

After graduating from Denison University with a degree in mathematics and economics, Steve joined the Navy. On shore leave in Naples, Italy, Steve traveled to Rome and visited the Coliseum as well as the Arch of Titus, which began his interest in ancient history. This interest in ancient history grew in 1993 when his extended family visited Israel.  

 

Steve's four-year tour of duty took him to many different ports with his final home port being Norfolk. Upon leaving the Navy, he took accounting courses at Old Dominion University. While at ODU, Steve saw a notice on a bulletin board for a position preparing tax returns with local accounting firm, Wasserman, Strickland, & Morgan. That job, which Steve expected to end after tax season, led to his becoming a certified public accountant and full-time employ with the company. In 1992, Steve became a shareholder in the firm that was renamed Strickland & Jones, P.C.

 

Transition planning for the retirement of partner Jimmy Strickland at the end of 2013 resulted in Steve becoming president and CEO. And, on Dec. 1, 2014 the firm was renamed Jones CPA Group, P.C. It has 25 associates, including 14 CPAs, and has offices in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News specializing in tax, accounting and advisory services.  

 

Steve’s interest in Civil War history has led him giving tours of Norfolk’s historic cemeteries. In his spare time, Steve enjoys researching the service records of Civil War veterans and reading history books. He is active in the Hampton Roads Civil War Round Table and recently gave a talk on how the Civil War was financed. Did you know that our paper money is a legacy of the Civil War? To finance the Civil War, the federal government in 1862 passed the Legal Tender Act, authorizing the creation of paper money not redeemable in gold or silver. These “greenbacks” had to be accepted for all taxes, debts and other obligations. You may not also know the national debt incurred to finance the war effort ($2.3 billion) was larger per person in 1865 than the current per person level of national debt. 

 

Steve's father was a Rotarian in Ohio. Early in his career, Steve was active in the Jaycees. When he “aged out” of that organization, his father encouraged him to join Rotary. Steve because a member of our club in 1993. He has had perfect attendance for 22 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow for his support of the Rotary Foundation. Steve and his wife Rebecca recently celebrated their 19^th anniversary.