HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire administered the oath of office to Thomas Jones Jr. on Friday, March 22, 2024, to serve a two-year term as a Port Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. Commissioner Jones attended his first Port Commission meeting in this capacity on Tuesday, March 26.
“Port Houston is the busiest waterway in the nation, and I am confident that my new appointment will improve city and port working relations and help bolster Port Houston’s legacy as an economic hub and innovative waterway,” said Mayor Whitmire.
Several local, state, and federal officials and business and community leaders were in attendance to show their support for Commissioner Jones. State Senator Carol Alvarado delivered greetings, emphasizing the importance of the Houston Ship Channel to the state and remarked to Mayor Whitmire that “Commissioner Jones was a smart appointment.”
Commissioner Jones is a highly respected business and civic leader who leads and champions the causes of community development, higher education, and the arts. He is a founding partner of McConnellJones, LLP, believed to be the largest African American public accounting firm in the United States, and recognized as one of the largest CPA practices in the Southwestern U.S. Now retired, Commissioner Jones continues to serve the firm as a consultant.
District I Joaquin Martinez, Port Houston Commissioner Dean Corgey, Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Martha CastexTatum, Port Commissioner Thomas Jones, Jr., Port Commissioner Clyde Fitzgerald, Port Houston Chairman Ric
Campo, and Port Commissioner Alan Robb is in the second row. Council member Sallie Alcorn officially nominated
Thomas Jones, Jr. for Port Houston Commissioner.
“I am blessed and honored to have this opportunity to serve the people of Houston. The port is a critically important business and economic engine for Houston, Texas, and the nation,” Commissioner Jones said. “I am excited to help lead and guide Port Houston’s current and future plans for growth and expansion.”
Commissioner Jones has served as chairman, president, and director on many community boards, including among many others the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Board (past chairman), Greater Houston Partnership, co-founder and Board President of Dominion Community Development Corporation (a church-based CDC), Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity (HEF), the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Foundation board, Jazz Houston and Trees for Houston.
“As Mayor Pro Tem and chair of the City of Houston Economic Development committee, we must recognize the Port of Houston as the vital gateway for trade and commerce in our city and region,” said Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Tatum-Castex. “I look forward to collaborating with Commissioner Jones as we continue to invest in this critical asset while also fostering inclusivity and empowering women in our maritime economy.”
By: Port Houston
