MCCORMICK, S.C. (WFXG) - It's a word that is often used, trailblazer.  It is a fitting one for Junne Jones.

He's known by several names; JR Jones, Captain Jones, Trooper Jones, or just husband and dad. Now his name will be known forever in McCormick county along Highway 10. A stretch of the highway is now called the Captain Junne "JR" Jones Memorial Highway.  

Jones began his career as a South Carolina Highway Patrolman in 1978. He made history as the first black state trooper in McCormick County. However, Jones didn't stop there, he became the first person of color named as Captain for Troop 2.

It's a promotion he almost missed according to a fellow trooper.

" He said, I got a temperature and this and that and they got me on oxygen."

"You tell the doctor to give you one of those small oxygen tanks, get out of that hospital because somebody is looking at the job." 

Jones left the hospital and spent his remaining career, that spanned 31 years as a South Carolina Highway Patrolman. But, Jones wasn't finished making history.  After a brief retirement Jones became Chief Of Police for McCormick for six years. Out of all his achievements, his biggest was husband and father.  

His son Gavin Jones said his dad always kept him on the right path.  "Very firm in his up bringing and made sure that I did the right thing," Jones said. "He was a component of doing the right thing all the time."

Captain Junne Jones passed away in 2019 after losing his battle to Multiple System Antropy.

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