CHS hoops alum gives back with new book about school heroes
“The team started their career with a dream and finished as the most winning team in their school’s history”
That quote adorns the front of Columbia alum Reid Jones’ new book, “TPC: Team, Pride, Commitment.”
Jones was an integral part of the Eagles basketball team that went 90-36 from 1997-2001. In its final campaign, that team made it all the way to the state tournament and the Elite Eight in Illinois.
The journey to the season’s final weekend, and everything that led up to it, lent Jones and his teammates a narrative that they believed could benefit the athletes of tomorrow.
“It is a collection of team stories from our 2000-01 state basketball team here at Columbia High,” Jones said. “We share stories from our Junior Eagle program in third grade all the way through senior year of high school and our last game at the state tournament.
“Through our journey we learned different lessons along the way which helped us out. There are 42 different lessons that we learned. Then we have individual drills, training, nutrition, strength. We have player profiles, on people like Ryan and Shawn Patton, who both scored over 2000 points here at Columbia High. They answered what it took to accomplish their goals and dreams here at Columbia.”
All of the principal players in the state drama, as well as the men who brought the future CHS stars along, contributed to the book.
“We have different teammates from the state team, Coach Dave Touchette, the middle school coach who helped us, Jon Wehrenberg, and the Junior Eagle coaches, my father (Don Jones) and Dennis Patton,” Jones said. “They originated the Junior Eagle program in 1986 and they worked with Ryan and Shawn’s team and also my team.”
Jones was inspired by the men that taught him. That education fostered a serious duty in the young man’s head, a loyalty to his school that he is trying to repay, one book at a time.
“The motivation for us is to encourage other athletes and students to give back here at Columbia High and Columbia Middle School, and do it in a meaningful way,” Jones said. “More than just giving money, we want them to think about providing some kind of service to the students and athletes. All profits go to the Columbia Athletic Boosters.”
Like the blue-collar ethos of the squad that went to state, “TPC” was a do-it-yourself operation from the start.
“I self-published it through a company over in St. Louis, Independent Publishing Company,” Jones said. “I did all the graphic design myself pretty much, from the front cover on. I picked the design and the story is in the book about why I picked that cover. We have pictures from different articles in the newspapers from the past.
“We have partnered up with different local businesses. They are buying a certain amount to donate back to kids here at Columbia. Marketplace (in Columbia) is also selling them.”
To reach Jones, send an email to tpcchs2001@gmail.com or see the website tpcfundraiser.blogspot.com.
Written by: Rick Broome | STLhighschoolSPORTS.com.
CHS hoops alum gives back with new book about school heroes
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- TPC Team
