EDMOND — How do you tell a life story 92 years in the making? Quantify the 69 years of marriage to Madeene Jones? Identify his two daughters Linda McCoy and Judy Coker? Recognize the sons-in law Tom McCoy and Bob Coker? List in descending birth order grandchildren Shannon Kaisler, Kelly McCoy, Robie Coker, Michael Coker, Meghan McCoy, Sean McCoy, Casey McCoy, and Matthew Coker? Count down the number of great grandchildren of 7? Or share that he is now able to keep watch from his special high vantage point while holding the newest one while she waits to arrive? Acknowledge brothers William Jones who preceded him in death and Gerald Jones and Ron Jones who survive him?

Perhaps identify his professional endeavors starting as a carpenter, then radio station salesman, moving up to radio station manager, and eventually radio station owner? Or significantly noting that he was a broadcaster’s broadcaster for 62 years? Recognizing in that time he helped launch careers of Oklahoma’s best known weatherman and the founder of the state’s largest family owned media company? Or adding into that recognition a current NBC news correspondent and many CNN, ABC, Oklahoma City, and Dallas Radio-TV anchors and sportscasters, hundreds of successful media and broadcast owners and executives across the country, and even academicians all who became what they are in part because of his constant encouragement, nagging, and relentless expectation for them to achieve whatever level of greatness he saw inside of them? Maybe acknowledging that no one ever just worked for him – he worked with and for them? Pointing out that he always defined his success solely through the success of others for whom he believed he was responsible to guide and develop? Observing that he was born in Oklahoma but started his career and family in that state below the Red River? Cheering with him because his beloved and market changing Red Rover radio station did a ‘take away’ of Sooner football radio broadcast rights when everyone said OU would never leave that ‘other’ radio station owned by the state’s most powerful and famous media name of all times? Surprising many by putting a new hockey team on the radio in Oklahoma City of all places? Whistling as he walked to work each day until he sold his Clovis, NM radio stations forcing him to retire at 90 while realizing he was the oldest active broadcaster owner in the nation?

Possibly list his accomplishments such as president of state broadcasters’ associations and civic clubs in two states? Observe that he was repeatedly honored by his peers locally, statewide, and nationally with numerous awards and handshakes from Mayors, Governors, Congressmen, and Senators? Understanding that none of that was as important as a hug from his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren?

They say the measure of a person’s life is often based on many of those significant, delineated matters above. However, If you were to ask C. Hewel Jones of Edmond, who died last week how he would want one to measure his life after he was gone he would put it quite simply: just read my business card. His card identified his name, the applicable radio station, and then his title: Assistant. You see, Hewel was there to assist everyone who loved him, worked for him, or knew him. He always wanted to write a book about broadcast selling or as he termed it – peddlin’. He never found the time to finish it because he never stopped selling; .peddlin’ every day. But he did complete an important book on October 4, 2012: How to live a full life with little regret and a whole lot of two way love and appreciation from family, friends, competitors, and nearly everyone you ever touched.

A private graveside service will be  in Ft. Worth this week under the direction of Crawford Family Funeral Service of Edmond. A celebration of Jones’ life is being planned in the Oklahoma City area for his many friends, former co-workers, and family. For information contact son-in-law Tom McCoy: tmccoy6688@aol.com. Online condolences can be made at www.crawfordcares.com.