John T. L. "Johnny" Jones was born on July 7, 1934 in Quanah, TX.  His parents, John Sr. and Mary Bellah Jones, were thrilled to welcome their only child into the world.  They were in their late 30's by the time Johnny came along, so they skipped the silver spoon and went straight to the golden one.  Johnny knew that he was special, and that life was full of fun.  Those two ideas stayed with him all his life.  His dad's insurance business provided a nice living in a thriving small town.  That life for Johnny included enjoying a large extended family in Quanah, being introduced to quarter horses and hunting at their family cabin near the Red River, becoming a skilled golfer at the 9-hole Quanah Country Club, and traveling in the summers with his family to places such as Ruidoso, NM and Cheyenne, WY for the rodeo.

Johnny graduated from Quanah High School when he was 16.  It took him several colleges and a few extra years to get through college, but he finally found a reason to finish when he met Janice Marie Nash at Abilene Christian College.  They married on December 18, 1955 in Cordell, OK, and he graduated with a business degree in 1956.  His father's death in 1958 precipitated a move back to Quanah.  Along with his father's insurance business, he became responsible for his dad's quarter horses.  The quarter horses really had more of his interest.  He started match racing his horses on the weekends, and after a few winners he was hooked.  The insurance business could not compare.  While Janice was busy taking care of their growing family, Johnny was developing B-J Ranch, training horses, and trying to figure out how to make a living in the horse business.  He trained the Kansas Futurity winner in 1967, Jet Smooth, but it was obvious that to succeed in the horse business, he would need to leave Quanah.  In 1968 he and Janice, 4 kids, and his mother moved from Quanah continuing a journey that would lead him to the upper echelon of the American horse racing industry.

For 6 years, he managed Warnerton Farms in Ohio and transitioned that farm to a thoroughbred farm.  Then over the next 32 years, he managed and owned Walmac Farm in Kentucky, leading it to prominence in the thoroughbred industry, including standing top stallions Nureyev, Alleged, and Miswaki.  During those years he also developed, owned, and managed Turkey Creek Ranch in TX, Two Creek Ranch in TX, and J-7 Ranch in Oklahoma.  He was instrumental in the development of thoroughbred racing's Breeder's Cup championships and served on the Breeder's Cup board.  As well he served on The Keeneland Association board and the Kentucky Racing Commission.

After Janice's death in 2003, Johnny married Brenda Kinsolving on March 25, 2007.  They moved back to Texas and the J-7 Ranch in Quanah, where Johnny raised cattle and quarter horses.  He raised and owned some of the top quarter horses in the country over the next several years, including champions Noconi and Ochoa.  Ochoa became the all-time leading money earner in quarter horse racing history.  Johnny eventually was inducted into the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame and the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Johnny's personality was a great fit for horse racing.  He loved the excitement, but mostly he loved the people and the friends he made along the way.  He was as comfortable visiting clients in the owner's boxes as he was visiting with the workers on the backstretch.  He loved bringing friends and clients to the Kentucky Derby and hosting Derby parties, but he also loved hosting end of the breeding season parties for his farm staff.  He loved going to the races and getting his friends or family to join in the winner's circle.  Shifting to his ranches later in life, his joy was gathering friends for an annual round-up to ride and work the cows, but mostly to share stories, drinks, food, laughter, and singing.

Johnny dearly loved his family and cherished his faith.  Janice and Brenda were angels to him that helped him have wonderful families and hold on to faith.  Johnny died on November 16, 2018 at his ranch near Quanah, TX.  Johnny is survived by his wife Brenda, his 4 children (and spouses), Johnny III (Mia) Jones, Hutton (Paula) Jones, Levi (Paula) Jones, and Julie (Guy) Mogge, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren, his stepchildren (and spouses), Jenna (Jeff) Decker, CJ (Kaitlin) Kinsolving, and Ashley (Josh) Crow, and 7 step grandchildren.

Johnny was known for telling great stories, sharing a good joke, or always having an appropriate quip.  One of his most known quips was "Stay in the Buggy", which he closed many a conversation with.  It may have been his way of saying "take care", but with him it could have been a way of saying "Hold on tight, 'cause it's going to be a heck of a ride".  Johnny, it has been a wonderful ride and a lot of fun!

Visitation will be at Smith Funeral Home in Quanah, TX on November 19 from 6 to 7 pm.  Graveside services will be held at the Quanah Cemetery on November 20 at noon.

In memory of John T. L. Jones Jr., the family requests donations be made to the Janice and John T. L. Jones Jr. Tennis Endowment at Abilene Christian University (gifts payable to ACU and sent to Gifts Record, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699), or the Janice Jones Giving Fund at American Cancer Society Hope Lodge (ACS Hope Lodge 1500 College Way, Lexington, KY 40502), or to Hospice of Wichita Falls, TX.   A memorial reception will be held in Lexington, KY at a future date.