Ralph and Martha Jones

Ralph C. Jones and Martha J. Jones are both proud graduates of WKU. Ralph graduated in 1966, with a Bachelor of Agriculture degree and then earned his master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1969. During his time at WKU, he began racing. He went on to race in the first televised Daytona 500 in 1979 and won the ARCA Daytona 200 in 1987. Between 1963-1988, Ralph continued to race and reach vocational agriculture in. In 1977, he began Jones Home Center, a building material dealer in Upton, Kentucky.

Martha graduated from WKU in 1977, with a Master of English degree. Upon graduating, she taught English for sixteen years. She and Ralph have two children, Ted and Joy (WKU ‘01). Both Ralph and Martha are lifetime members of the Alumni Association.

To further their legacy at WKU, Ralph and Martha established the Ralph and Martha Jones Scholarship Fund in 2019. The purpose of this fund is to assist deserving students at WKU who are pursuing a degree in Agriculture with a concentration in Agribusiness. Through this fund, the Jones’ impact on the Hill continues in perpetuity.