When Bill Jones launched his own mechanical construction company in 1979, his mission was to provide the highest level of service to his clients, provide opportunities and growth to his employees, and maintain a level of leadership in the plumbing-heating-cooling (p-h-c) industry. Recognizing his decades of devotion to that mission and to the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association, PHCC presented its highest honor, the Col. George D. Scott Award, to Jones during its annual awards ceremony, held Oct. 22 at PHCCCONNECT2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“A large portion of [Jones’] career has been dedicated to supporting the trades and continuing education,” said outgoing PHCC President Hunter Botto during the award presentation. “In doing so, he has brought great honor upon himself, his family, his company, his local, state and National PHCC Associations, his local community, and our beloved industry.”

Inspired by PHCC’s inaugural president, Col. George D. Scott, the award acknowledges a PHCC member who has provided years of service and unselfish devotion to the association and to the industry … and whose industry efforts have provided many benefits to other p-h-c contractors.

Jones started fulfilling his professional mission from the onset. Upon graduating from high school in 1965, he entered a five-year plumbing apprenticeship program, where he gained experience in the field on new commercial projects as well as estimating and drafting. He then worked as a foreman and project manager and, at the age of 25 – just two years after completing apprentice school – was asked to come back as an instructor.

After launching Raven Mechanical in Houston, Texas, with his wife Patty, Jones continued to be instrumental in industry education through his involvement in trade associations. He revitalized the plumbing apprentice program for the Associated Building Contractors, and he joined the Associated General Contractors, where he was one of the first associate members elected to its board of directors.

In 1988, he joined PHCC and has served in several leadership positions at the local and state levels in Texas, developing numerous education programs including a contractor boot camp, Journeyman Prep class and the Medical Gas class for PHCC of Texas.

In addition, Jones was one of the founding members of the Construction Contractors’ Alliance, a PHCC Enhanced Service Group, and has been a prominent leader for the PHCC Educational Foundation, serving as chairman of the Foundation and chairman of its Investment Committee and continuing to support its education and scholarship programs as a member of the Board of Governors.

“Mr. Jones has been known as saying that the most important things in his career were the ability to work every day with his wife Patty … and to groom his sons to take the reins of Raven Mechanical,” said representatives from PHCC of Texas in their nomination of Jones for this award. Jones is now retired yet continues to support his sons at Raven Mechanical and remains an active member of PHCC of Texas. Sadly, Patty passed away in 2019; her legacy and support of PHCC lives on through the national Patty Jones Memorial Scholarship, which Bill Jones established.

As one of the association’s greatest supporters, members and leaders, Jones “personifies the very qualities that distinguish him among his peers and make him deserving of PHCC’s highest honor,” Botto said.