Allan L. Jones

Allan Leslie Jones, 74, passed away on Saturday, December 25, 2021 at Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston, Iowa. He was born August 5, 1947 to Richard and Bernadine (Buxbaum) Jones in Marshalltown.

Growing up in Keokuk, Iowa, Allan spent his teenage years traveling alone on weekends on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to St. Louis. He lodged with local host parents and attended tennis clinics offered by renowned tennis coach, Bill Price. There he trained with top regional junior talent as well as up and coming national proteges, including Arthur Ashe, Dennis Ralston, and Chuck McKinley. By the time he graduated from Keokuk High School in 1965, he had become one of the top junior players in the state and was offered a scholarship to play for the University of Iowa.

Allan joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity upon arriving in Iowa City. He and several fraternity brothers attained notoriety around campus for seldom, if ever, missing a Big Ten Conference Iowa men’s basketball game, including away games, often traveling in his cherished 1962 Ford Mustang. He played #6 singles and #3 doubles for the Iowa men’s tennis team earning a varsity letter. Allan revered his coach, Dr. Donald D. Klotz, an innovative, nationally recognized figure by that time and later a member of several coaching Halls of Fame.

He accepted a position with a wholesale food operation in Indianapolis, Indiana upon graduating with a B.A. Degree in Psychology during the spring of 1969. Turning his focus back to three lifelong loves, the state of Iowa, tennis, and delicious food, he moved to Des Moines in the early 1970’s. Throughout most of that decade he served as Assistant General Manager at Wakonda Club, overseeing its highly-acclaimed restaurant operation, and as Tennis Director at Racquet Club West. Allan remained a top competitive local tennis player during that period, and in 1977 he and another local standout, Joy Rabinowitz, won the coveted Younkers-Kodel Mixed Doubles Tournament.

By the late 1970’s Allan was ready to apply the coaching knowledge garnered from his two legendary mentors, Price and Klotz, toward a junior tennis academy-like venture of his own. Over the ensuing decades he coached students to 40 individual state tennis titles, with more playing on state champion teams, all the while instilling the enjoyment of hard work, discipline, loyalty, success, gourmet food, and not taking oneself too seriously, upon dozens and dozens of students. The notable collegiate-level successes of his students, too numerous to mention individually, include several men’s and women’s NCAA Division I number one singles and doubles players, an NCAA Division II national doubles runner up, and a junior college national singles champion.

Formally retiring in 2003, Coach Jones was soon coaxed out of retirement by a persistent former student able to persuade him to train the former student’s young son. This arrangement led to requests from more parents and to another 15 years of influencing and elevating local junior tennis talent, oftentimes the children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren of former pupils.

Coach Jones’ friendships with many of his students, and theirs amongst themselves, have truly lasted a lifetime. He shared a remarkable bond with them and consistently preached about the parallels of tennis and life: that preparation is paramount to success, how to persevere via determination and intelligence, and exactly which exotic, delectable cuisine a particular player was going to be chided into enjoying at the next team dinner. In fact, over several decades, countless parents were astounded at their children’s sudden appreciation of dishes they had previously refused to even try.

In addition to serving his many students, Allan served his country in the Army Reserves.

A lifelong lover and owner of collies, Allan was preceded in death by dearly beloved, longtime companions, Pete and Carter, and is survived by six-year-old furry friend, Newman.

He is survived by his wife, Brianna Covington, and his son, Seth Covington, of Watsonville, California as well as many friends who cherished and loved him.

Allan was preceded in death by his parents.

Special thanks to all who reached out to Allan in the final days and weeks with visits, phone calls, text messages, food deliveries, support, love, and prayers. It really did mean the world to him. Allan’s remains will be laid to rest at his family plot in Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 6-8 pm, with a brief program at 7 pm, at Wakonda Club, 3915 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Central Iowa Tennis Alliance (CITA) for the revitalization of the Birdland Tennis Complex in Des Moines or to Bishop Drumm Care Center. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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