Culver City Hall Courtyard now has a new name: “The Dale Jones City Hall Courtyard.” The City Council officially dedicated the courtyard to Jones Nov. 18 before more than a hundred friends, family and city officials, current and retired.
Former Mayor Paul Jacobs had everyone in jovial laughter as he emceed the event with Culver City’s Historian Julie Lugo Cerra giving the audience some great insight on what was happening in the City during Dale Jones’ tenure.
Jody Hall Esser, Jones’ successor as City Manager, shared how “Dale’s open-door” style of leadership inspired everyone to work hard as a team. Former Mayor Andrew Weissman shared how Jones inspired him to use his free time to assist organizations that help people. Another former mayor, Jozelle Smith, and her husband, Ken Smith, supplied some great insight on Jones’ love of people, fishing and USC; ironically later in the day USC was to play their arch rival UCLA.
Dan Cohen spoke about how easy it was to work with Dale as a Culver City citizen and how Dale was always willing to help especially when it was about making his city look great. Former Mayor Steven Gourley shared how Dale’s said what he meant and he meant what he said. And his cousin, Greg Steininger, shared the family side of Jones and how he inspired him to be the best he could be in life.
At the end of the dedication service, Mayor Jeffrey Cooper shared that he had never met Dale, but when he got involved in the life of Culver City governance, Jones’ name always came up regarding how good things got done in the city.
Then Cooper officially dedicated the courtyard. Dale’s granddaughter’s, Emily, Rinnah, Abigail, and Lily Jones sang a beautiful rendition of “It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, who himself was a Culver City resident in years past.
Dale Jones was and remains, Culver City’s and California’s longest-serving City Manager, from 1966 to 1992.
Jones was very active in his city and cared for it very much. He belonged to The Culver City Rotary Club, The Culver City Lions Club, The Culver City Jaycees and the Culver-Palms Family YMCA board of managers. He was also very active in the Culver City Sister City Committee, making friends all over the world.