In Memoriam: Brereton C. Jones

UVA Honor was a “foundation” for Kentucky governor

UVA was never far from Brereton C. “Brerry” Jones (Com ’61 CM), even as he built Airdrie Stud, his world-renowned thoroughbred horse farm, or served in various political offices, including as governor of Kentucky. 

Jones gave his horses and farms names such as “Vinegar Hill” and “Imp Society.” Other business names included the words “Cavalier” and “Wahoo.” And the principles of UVA’s Honor Code guided him as he held political office. At UVA, Jones was elected president of the McIntire School of Commerce and served on the Honor Committee.

“It became a wonderful foundation for Brerry’s life after that,” Jones’ brother Bartow Ned Jones (Col ’68) said of his time on the Honor Committee. “His compassion for people and helping people was really boundless, except when they were playing across from him on the football field or he saw them, in life, trying to cheat or be dishonest or take advantage of people.” 

Jones died at his home in September after a long illness. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (Law ’03) directed that his body lie in state in the Kentucky State Capitol’s rotunda. He was 84.

“Gov. Jones was a dedicated leader and a distinguished thoroughbred owner who worked to strengthen Kentucky for our families,” Beshear said in a statement. 
Jones arrived at UVA on a football scholarship, playing 27 straight games without a single win, Ned Jones said. But he stood out on the field and won an invitation to the Hula Bowl, an all-star game for college seniors.

Jones tried a semester at UVA’s law school before returning home to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and, within a few years, entering politics. All that time on the football field came in handy. “He loved his days in football and, as he said, ‘This prepared me for the rough-and-tumble world of politics,’” said David Whitehouse, Jones’ former director of intergovernmental affairs. 

Jones served as a Republican in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1964 to 1968, leaving to focus on his construction business. His lifelong love of horses eventually led him to Kentucky. 

With progressive goals to improve health care access, education and ethics in Kentucky, Jones returned to politics as a Democrat, serving as Kentucky’s lieutenant governor from 1987 to 1991 and as governor from 1991 to 1995. A federal investigation into the Kentucky General Assembly, dubbed Operation Boptrot, started as an undercover investigation while he was lieutenant governor and led to the conviction of more than a dozen legislators.

Jones, whose administration was never under suspicion, angered some when he said he thought the investigation was “going to be a good thing.” 

“From time to time, I think you have to clean out the system, and I think this is a good cleansing process,” he said in April 1992, according to his public papers housed at the University of Kentucky. Among his achievements as governor were major ethics and election finance reforms. 

Family was always a focus for Jones. He famously refused to campaign on Sundays so he could spend time with his wife, Libby, and two children. After leaving political office, Jones also had more time for his 2,000-acre farm and the thoroughbred industry. Jones was a founding member of the Breeders’ Cup and served as a director from 1996 to 2005. 

In addition to his brother, Jones is survived by his wife, two children, four grandchildren, niece Shelley Rudge (Col ’96, Law ’99 CM) and nephew Bartow Jones (Com ’98).

—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall