James Jones was inducted into the STI/SPFA Hall of Fame in 2024. We recently had an opportunity to talk with Jimmy about his career and what being inducted into the STI/SPFA Hall of Fame means to him.
STI/SPFA: How did you get started in the industry?
Jimmy Jones: I’m a third-generation person. My grandfather started the company. In 1932, he was working at a steel mill in Gary, Indiana, and he came home to Owensborro, and he grew it from there, over 50 years.
STI/SPFA: What has STI/SPFA meant to you?
Jones: Modern has been a part of STI/SPFA since 1963, and it’s been a place where we’ve been able to come and interact with fellow manufacturers and share ideas to better manufacture our products. And they have come up with new technologies for everybody that has helped us and everybody else grow their business.
Just being the camaraderie of your fellow people that are in the same business, in the same shape, that you’re able to bring it together and just talk and socialize.
STI/SPFA: What advice would you give to the next generation?
Jones: My advice to the next generation of the Modern family is to do the job you enjoy, because if you don’t enjoy what you’ve done, you’re not going to be happy. If you’re not happy, then it makes it more difficult, and you can tell by people’s attitude in the way they interact with everybody else, that I’m not happy.
STI/SPFA: What does being inducted to the STI/SPFA Hall of Fame mean to you?
Jones: Being selected as a member of the STI/SPFA Hall of Fame, it means a lot to me.
I’m a little surprised by it, of course, humbled by it because the people that are in it already are some people that I’ve always looked up to. It’s a very humbling experience and I’m very proud to be a member.
