Jesse H. Jones II began a two-year term as chair of the Houston Endowment board of directors January 1, 2018. He has served as a director since 2007.
Jones follows David Mendez as chair. Mendez retired from the board at the end of 2017.
Jesse H. Jones II is the grandnephew of Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. In his professional career, he worked as an oil and gas banker and subsequently in radio broadcasting, where he headed a Houston-based radio station group.
Mr. Jones is former chairman of the Houston Ballet Foundation and remains on its board and Executive Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Crested Butte Center for the Arts, and he is a member of the UT Health Development Board. He serves as board chair of the Foundation for the Society for the Performing Arts and is former board chairman of the Society for the Performing Arts.
Previously he served as president of DePelchin Children’s Center and as board chairman of the Foundation for DePelchin Children’s Center. He has also been a member of the boards of the Alley Theatre, Houston Achievement Place, Texas Freedom Network, Houston Arts Alliance, ChildBuilders, the Mental Health Association, Planned Parenthood and the MATCH, where he is now an advisory director.