Presidents come and go, new members become old members and club customs evolve through the years, but for the Vicksburg Rotary Club one thing has been a constant for 60 years: Edley H. Jones Jr. has been serving as its secretary and treasurer, which includes providing the club’s weekly newsletter dubbed the Rotary Rogue.

“I enjoy the self-expression, and I like the constant contact with all the members,” Jones said of his weekly newsletter — adding he might have been a little late in sending it out a few times, but never missed a single week. That means he has written more than 3,000 newsletters for the Vicksburg Rotary Club.

Like most club newsletters, the Rotary Rogue includes the typical news of upcoming programs, the club’s financial standings, national club happenings and members’ birthdays and anniversaries.  But what sets Jones’ newsletter apart is his entertaining tongue-in-cheek style of writing. Club members never know what “Deadly Edley” — as he has dubbed himself — will report.

In a recent edition, along with his usual antics and cartoons, he wrote “You know you’re getting old when all the entries in your address book have M.D. after the names,” as his “insipid comment of the week.”

Jones himself may have a few doctors’ names in his address book, but more than likely they are just his good friends’ telephone numbers. At 86, the former insurance executive and travel agency owner not only has maintained his quick wit, but he still gets around like an energizer bunny.

Jones joined the Vicksburg Rotary Club in 1951 and has been a loyal member ever since.

“He is always there and has done so many things; I couldn’t list all of his achievements,” said Pat Cashman, a past president of the club. “He personifies the Rotary Club motto ‘Service above Self’ and is an anchor for the local chapter’s club.”

Paul P. Harris, a Chicago attorney, founded Rotary International in 1905 as one of the world’s first service organizations. It began as a place where professionals from different backgrounds could come together, exchange ideas and form friendships. Currently there are 34,558 individual Rotary clubs with more than 1.2 million members, said Jones.

“The Vicksburg Rotary Club has changed along with the times and needs of the world,” said Jones, some of which include a more relaxed atmosphere verses a formal affair.

“Now the meetings are fun and light, while still accomplishing their goals.”

Other changes for the local club include the addition of female members, which Jones said has been a good thing.  Also, the technological advances have changed of course.

Jones said he first began printing out the weekly newsletter on a mimeograph machine, and now he sends out all but one of the newsletters electronically through email.

“One of the members doesn’t know how to open up email, so I print out one copy a week and mail it,” he said.

Like father — like son — Rotary has become a tradition for the men in the Jones family. The late Dr. Edley H. Jones Sr., was also a member of the local club. He, like his son, served as the secretary/treasurer, but for only a mere 20 years.

Jones Jr.’s sons, Edley H., III, and Howell, were also members of the Vicksburg Rotary Club before moving to Jackson and Dallas, respectively, and both men continued their memberships in their new communities.

“My grandfather and father both served Rotary with distinction, but Dad’s commitment and achievement are on a completely different level as it is unheard of that a member would serve as both secretary and treasurer for Rotary and thus be on the Board of Directors for 59 going on 60 years!  And that excludes the fact that he served as president, also.  If I started today, I would have to live to the age of 120 to match that record, so he definitely set the bar very high in the Jones family, and Rotary worldwide for that matter,” said Jones III.

In July, Gary Huang, the International President of Rotary Clubs worldwide, presented Jones Jr. a pin at the Jackson Rotary Club honoring him for a remarkable 60 years as club secretary and treasurer.

“I joined the Vicksburg Rotary Club when I was 29,” said Jones Jr.’s youngest son, Howell.

“I remember my pop relating to me that his father had been the secretary for Rotary for 20 years. At that time, Pop was in his 31st year. I immediately started making my plans to leave Vicksburg….. as my brother, Edely H. III., had already left for Jackson, and I knew not to follow children, animals and Edley!”