Article from the Nelson News that was handed out at the Nelson and also placed on the EDS Byron Nelson Web Site.Following is the text from the article:
Joni and Delton Jones are making the most of retirement. Last year, the couple sold their Trophy Club home and hit the road in a newly purchased RV. Their travels have taken them from Alaska to New Hampshire and many places in between, but when the EDS Byron Nelson Championship rolls around, the Jones are easy to find.
The Jones have a combined 52 years of experience as volunteers at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Each year, they take time from their travels to serve as laser operators on the TPC No. 17 Green.
Delton began volunteering at the 1969 tournament played at Preston Trail Golf Club. He has seen many changes on and off the course over his years at the Nelson. Delton’s first job was to call in scores over a radio. Now, with the help of Joni and his brother Ron, they are charged with using a laser to determine the distance between the ball and the hole.
Joni and Delton were both employed with IBM when they met and fell in love. They share a passion for golf. So much so that Delton proposed to Joni on the golf course in Trophy Club. It was while they were still dating that Delton invited Joni to work with him at the Nelson. That was 1986, and 20 years later they're still going strong.
Ask Delton what one of his fondest memories is from working so many Nelson tournaments, and he recalls watching Tom Landry launch a hole-in-one on a par 3 in a Nelson Pro-Am. Landry’s playing group also included the legendary Bob Hope.
After this year’s tournament, the Jones are hitting the road to Niagara Falls in their RV and then they will spend some relaxing time in Fun Valley, CO. But when the Nelson rolls around next April you can expect the RV to be parked in Irving again.
In the meantime, if you want to keep up with Joni and Delton’s travels, visit their blog site at www.OnTheRoadAgainWithDeltonAndJoni.blogspot.com.
