TERRE HAUTE — Winton D. “Doc” Jones was a pharmacist and businessman with a shop at 13th Street and College Avenue in Terre Haute for more than 50 years.
A graduate of Terre Haute’s Booker T. Washington school, Wiley High School and the Indianapolis College of Pharmacy (later Butler University College of Pharmacy), Jones started his own drug store after finding that no white druggists in Terre Haute were willing to hire a black pharmacist to wait on customers.
Jones, who was born in 1904, rented his first business location for 17 years at 13th Street and College Avenue and later built his own pharmacy and lunch diner on the same corner in 1942.
“Jones Drug Store was a pillar of the black community in south end,” writes Margaret Edinburgh, who attended Booker T. Washington school and remembers Jones’ store from her childhood. “I was always jealous of those children who got to eat lunch at Jones Drug Store,” she added. He served fried lunchmeat sandwiches, burgers, ice cream sodas, fountain drinks and scoops of ice cream, Edinburgh recalls fondly.
“Doc Jones was a major employer of teenagers in our community,” Edinburgh writes. “Those who had the honor of working for him were considered ‘the best of the best.’”
Jones wanted to serve lunches at his drug store “because my people couldn’t eat any place downtown,” he told an interviewer for the Vigo County Oral History Program. White restaurant owners would turn away black customers in those days, he said.
Jones was active in the Methodist Church’s anti-racism efforts. He also served on the Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission, the Vigo County Board of Health and was a member of the Young Men’s Civic Club and the Lexington Men’s Club and volunteered for Big Brothers.
Jones died in 1993 at age 89. He is buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery.
Arthur Foulkes can be contacted at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Black History Month
February 10, 2007
Black History Month: ‘Doc’ Jones helped pave way in Valley, was a ‘pillar of the black community’
- Black History Month
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Black History Month: Carter Goodwin Woodson 'Father of Black History'
Carter Goodwin Woodson, a black author, editor, publisher and historian, was born in December 1875 and lived until April 1950. Woodson believed that African-Americans should know about their past in order to cooperate intelligently in the affairs of our country. Strongly he believed that African-American history is a firm foundation for young Black Americans.
He is known as the “Father of Black History” and held an important position in black history in early 20th century American history. - Correction March 16, 2007 The Tribune-Star corrects errors. If you believe we have made an error, contact Editor Max Jones at (812) 231-4336 or e-mail him at max.jones@tribstar.com.
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