Donald “Pee Wee” Jones
Don “Pee Wee” Jones began attending wrestling practice when he was in sixth grade. The practices were held on the stage in the front of the auditorium. The meets werewrestled on the floor in the front part of the auditorium. Little did the coaches realize that Jones would be the second four-time District 5 wrestling champion.
The first District 5 Wrestling Tournament was held in 1939, and the first four-time champ was Boswell’s Bill Myers (1940-1943). The second was Bedford’s Donald “Pee
Wee” Jones (1947-1950).
Jones recalled setting beside John Heacock, Bedford’s first state champion in 1945 and two-time state runner-up, before the District 5 finals in 1947. Heacock told Jones that he was going for his fourth district title and, “you (Jones) are going for your
first of four titles.”
Jones went on to win his first of four District 5 titles while an injured Heacock lost.
In his sophomore year at states, Jones lost in overtime 0-0, 0-0 referee’s decision to Bellefonte’s Tom Riglin.
Jones came close to getting a takedown in the first overtime period, but his opponent got off the mat. Riglin went on to win the state championship with decisions of 7-1 and 6-2. There were no wrestlebacks at states at this time.
There are many tales about Jones and wrestling, but there was one that late Ed Clark, then an assistant coach under head coach Whitey Koontz, liked to tell. Jones was on his back and almost pinned. He looked over to coach Koontz and gave him the thumbs up sign. He reversed his opponent and pinned him.
Jones, a 1950 Bedford High School graduate, was born in Bedford in 1932 and lived there all his life except for a period of time when he was in the Navy during the Korean War.
He married Mary Cober on February 20, 1957. They have four sons: Mark, David, John, and James. David was a two-time District 5 Wrestling Champion.
Jones loved binding books, a craft he learned while serving in the Navy. Jones was an avid Bedford wrestling fan until he passed away in 2016.
Record of Donald Jones
Year Win Loss Tie
1947 7 3 0 Lost 2 dual meets and at states
1948 8 1 2 Lost at states to the eventual state champ in overtime 0-0, 0-0 Referee’s Decision
1949 8 1 0 Lost at states
1950 5 1 0 Lost at states
Totals 28 6 2
.
Don “Pee Wee” Jones began attending wrestling practice when he was in sixth grade. The practices were held on the stage in the front of the auditorium. The meets werewrestled on the floor in the front part of the auditorium. Little did the coaches realize that Jones would be the second four-time District 5 wrestling champion.
The first District 5 Wrestling Tournament was held in 1939, and the first four-time champ was Boswell’s Bill Myers (1940-1943). The second was Bedford’s Donald “Pee
Wee” Jones (1947-1950).
Jones recalled setting beside John Heacock, Bedford’s first state champion in 1945 and two-time state runner-up, before the District 5 finals in 1947. Heacock told Jones that he was going for his fourth district title and, “you (Jones) are going for your
first of four titles.”
Jones went on to win his first of four District 5 titles while an injured Heacock lost.
In his sophomore year at states, Jones lost in overtime 0-0, 0-0 referee’s decision to Bellefonte’s Tom Riglin.
Jones came close to getting a takedown in the first overtime period, but his opponent got off the mat. Riglin went on to win the state championship with decisions of 7-1 and 6-2. There were no wrestlebacks at states at this time.
There are many tales about Jones and wrestling, but there was one that late Ed Clark, then an assistant coach under head coach Whitey Koontz, liked to tell. Jones was on his back and almost pinned. He looked over to coach Koontz and gave him the thumbs up sign. He reversed his opponent and pinned him.
Jones, a 1950 Bedford High School graduate, was born in Bedford in 1932 and lived there all his life except for a period of time when he was in the Navy during the Korean War.
He married Mary Cober on February 20, 1957. They have four sons: Mark, David, John, and James. David was a two-time District 5 Wrestling Champion.
Jones loved binding books, a craft he learned while serving in the Navy. Jones was an avid Bedford wrestling fan until he passed away in 2016.
Record of Donald Jones
Year Win Loss Tie
1947 7 3 0 Lost 2 dual meets and at states
1948 8 1 2 Lost at states to the eventual state champ in overtime 0-0, 0-0 Referee’s Decision
1949 8 1 0 Lost at states
1950 5 1 0 Lost at states
Totals 28 6 2
.
Class of 2017
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2017