I AM BLACK HISTORY | Thomas Jones, Jr.

Thomas Jones, Jr.

In Houston, economic leadership is more than a title. It is a responsibility. Thomas Jones Jr. has spent decades carrying that responsibility with integrity, discipline, and vision.

Thomas Jones Jr. retired in 2022 as a founding partner of McConnellJones, LLP, now the largest African American owned public accounting firm in the United States. What began as a bold vision became a national institution serving corporate, governmental, nonprofit, and individual clients across Houston, Washington DC, Durham, Austin, and Dallas. Through audit, tax, accounting, and management consulting services, the firm has helped shape financial accountability and growth across industries.

Building one of the most successful Black owned accounting firms in the country was not simply a business achievement. It was a statement. It proved that Black excellence belongs at the highest levels of finance, compliance, and corporate leadership.

In February 2024, Thomas Jones Jr. was appointed by the City of Houston to serve on the Port Commission. The Port of Houston is one of the most critical economic engines in the nation, impacting global trade, jobs, and regional growth. On the Commission, Mr. Jones serves as Chair of the Strategic Sourcing Committee and contributes to the Audit Committee, Community Relations Committee, Pension and Benefits Committee, and the Dredge Task Force. His work directly influences the financial and strategic direction of an institution that affects millions.

But his impact extends far beyond boardrooms and balance sheets.

He is the Board President and Co founder of the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity, an organization committed to addressing systemic disparities and advancing opportunity for underserved communities. He also serves as Interim President of Jazz Houston, supporting arts and culture in the city, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Medical Center Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 26.

Education has always been central to his mission. As a founding member and Past Chairman of the Houston Chapter of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, he has remained deeply committed to supporting HBCU students. Through the Thomas and K’netha Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund, he and his wife invest annually in students from Houston and Daytona Beach, ensuring the next generation has access to opportunity.

His life reflects stability, faith, and long term commitment. He and his wife K’netha have been married for 46 years. Together they raised two children and remain active members of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Whether reading, traveling, golfing, fishing, or hunting, he approaches life with the same steady discipline that defined his professional career.

Thomas Jones Jr. represents a generation of leaders who built institutions that will outlive them. He understands that economic strength fuels community strength. He understands that ownership matters. He understands that legacy is intentional.

He is not just part of Houston’s history. He is helping shape its future.

This is Black History in motion.