Russ Jones

For the past four decades, Russ Jones has been the head of R.L. Jones Customs Brokers with offices throughout California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas border regions. Additionally, he has been elected thrice to the Arizona State House of Representatives, where he Chaired the Agricultural and Water Committees and was on Appropriations, as well as JLBC committees.

Along with his wife Janet, his partner for over 56 years, he has been awarded the prestigious Philanthropists of the Year Award for their untiring efforts to promote the arts and educational opportunities for all, and with contributions to the efforts of the Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma (ACF of Yuma). Russ is Chair Emeritus and Founder of the U.S./Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership Group, taking an active interest in matching the needs with the funding required to make dreams possible for those on both sides of the border.

Russ is the Past Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA), promoting cooperation and understanding between the business communities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and is a Commissioner and Past Chair of the Arizona Power Authority, dealing with the water and power needs of Arizona. In addition, he spearheaded the successful Yuma County JTED efforts to establish a STEDY to allow high school and college students to get the training and experience they need to make a meaningful contribution to their communities in the future, while earning college credit and CTE certificates.

Community development has been an ongoing endeavor with his participation in statewide, countywide and local economic development projects. Sitting on the Board of Directors for the Arizona/Mexico Commission (AMC) for nearly forty years, having been appointed by eight Governors from Governor John “Jack” Williams to most recently being reappointed by Governor Doug Ducey, he has been an integral part of both state and international policymaking. Russ has twice been awarded with the Tony Certosimo Award, which is the highest award the AMC bestows upon an individual.

He was past Chair of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC), San Luis Economic Development Commission, and also served on the boards of both the Yuma and San Luis Chambers of Commerce, was a founding member of 1st Bank Yuma, a thriving community bank that has grown to serve the needs of local communities in Yuma, San Luis, and Nogales, Arizona, and, more recently, the Co-Founder of the Scottsdale Community Bank.

As an Army veteran and currently an officer in the Civil Air Patrol, his attention to the welfare of his local community, whether it is a search and rescue mission, or being Chairman of the committee to incorporate the Town of San Luis, Arizona, Founding Member of the San Luis Frontera Rotary Club, or in his work on the Executive Committee of the Grand Canyon Council, District Advisory Charter President with the Boy Scouts of America and the Gila River District Chair, his devotion to the community is well known.

Some of Russ’s honors include being awarded the Legislator of the Year in 2006, the 2022 Yuma County Chamber Businessman of the Year, being inducted into the Arizona Western College Hall of Fame in 2022 and being inducted into the Yuma County Education Foundation Hall of Fame in 2023.