LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Catholic High School faculty, staff, students and friends joined members of the Jones Family to dedicate the newly completed annex. The two-story building has been named the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Academic and Athletic Annex.
The 30,000-square-foot building opened in January, houses three classrooms, four offices, a multi-purpose room, varsity and junior varsity locker rooms, the Garrett Uekman weight room and an indoor practice facility that includes 30 yards of artificial turf.
"For decades, the Jones Family has been a loyal and valued member of the Catholic High School community," said Steve Straessle, principal of Catholic High School. "They were among the first to sign on to our capital campaign, which helped us make necessary renovations to ensure the same exceptional education that the community expects, will continue for many more generations. The Jones Family remains deeply committed to the vision and philosophy of Catholic High School and we're proud to add the Jones name to our campus in this tangible way."
"As a family, we are proud to be a part of this project," said Jerry Jones. "We hope that the young men who pass through these doors will become further inspired to reach their full potential as students, athletes and people of strong character. Our devotion to this institution reaches back to the principles of dignity and compassion that Father Tribou instilled in members of our family and thousands of others. His spirit and sense of commitment are still with the students here today and have been enhanced by Steve Straessle's leadership and his sharp focus on developing quality men for the future."
The annex classrooms reflect Catholic High School's emphasis on making the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Academic and Athletic Annex a first-class facility. The entire structure has been outfitted with state-of-the-art technology.
Both of Gene and Jerry Jones' sons, Stephen (Class of 1983) and Jerry Jr. (1988), and son-in-law Shy Anderson (1981) were students and athletes at Little Rock Catholic High School, and all three credit their development as young men and later success as professionals and family men to their experience at the school and the enduring life lessons taught by Father Tribou.
CHS is the oldest and largest Catholic school for boys in Arkansas. For more than 80 years, it has been dedicated to the formation of the whole person, not only molding the minds of young men but also molding their spirits for whatever they choose to pursue in life.
