NATIONAL CROQUET MUSEUM

Fred is welcomed to the Hall of Fame for his enormous efforts and contributions to the sport of croquet. Fred ismarried to Jackie Jones and they have five grown children and nine grandchildren. Fred graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Tufts University, College of Engineering, and after 31 years is retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of Captain.

Fred is a member of USCA, through the Sarasota County Croquet Club, and the Boca Bay Croquet Club. He has been a member since 1988, having joined on becoming a member of the Newport Casino Croquet Club. In 1989 he was appointed District president of the Rhode Island district by Foxy Carter, serving until 1994. In 1994 he was appointed by Bill Berne to be Florida West Coast District President, until he relinquished the position upon being elected Florida Region Vice President in 2000. During this time he instituted a Florida West Coast Invitational Tournament, held annually while courts were available. He served four two-year elected terms as Florida Region Vice President.

Fred also served as Chairman of the Equipment Standards Committee, certifying equipment that met the standards of the USCA from 1991 to 1995, when the committee was dissolved. At that time it was decided that USCA would accept the approvals of the World Croquet Federation.

Fred is currently serving, and as of 2005 has served for six years, as Chairman of the Handicapping Committee. This includes almost daily calls to the USCA office to insure that handicaps and tracking points are accurately maintained and posted in a timely manner, as well as handling all requests concerning deviations from the system. Recently after a six months study, some modifications were made to the system at his request, to insure a more workable system.

ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE SPORT
Fred has competed in most all of the National Championships during the last 15 years, placing 7th in 2005. He has also competed in the Seniors and Masters tournament (Four years as Tournament Director) during most of the past 15 years. He won the Masters Championship in 1997 and again in 2008, and placed second to Ted Knopf three times. He and his wife have been the National Seniors Doubles Champions for two years. In 2004 he placed #6 in the Grand Prix rating system. His current handicap is –1.0

Professionally Fred has acted as Tournament Director for the US Nationals five times, the National Club Teams twice, and the Seniors-Masters four times. He acted as Tournament Director for the New England Regional for five years, and for the Florida Regional three times. Currently he is acting as Tournament Director for the tournaments at Sarasota, Audubon, Winter Park, Hammock Dunes, Chattooga Club, and Merion in Pennsylvania.

Since moving to Florida, Fred has taught croquet at least four days a week, in season, either at Hideaway Beach, Marco Island; Audubon Country Club, Naples; Boca Bay Club, Boca Grande, and Waterford Croquet Club, Venice.

Fred is certified as a National Referee and as a National Instructor by USCA. He averages about fifteen tournaments a year, either playing or directing, and had done so for the past twelve to fourteen years.
Upon moving to Florida Fred and Jackie, in a joint financial endeavor with the developer, installed two croquet clubs in the Waterford community in Venice, on land donated by the developer. They equipped, taught, and maintained the courts for five years, until the land was developed. As a result of these courts, Fred was asked to design, layout, and equip croquet courts that were installed at University Park in Sarasota, Riverwood in Port Charlotte, River Wilderness in Parrish, and the Oaks in Osprey who upgraded theirs. Three of these are still active with USCA members. Waterford was named Private Club of the year in 1994-1995.
In 1990 Fred and Jackie were part of the group that started the Sarasota Croquet Club, on one of three lawn bowling courts in Sarasota. For five years, they held two invitational tournaments a year, as well as growing the club from the 14 original members to seventy members. As a result of the clubs growth, the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department offered, and constructed three croquet lawns in Venice, Florida, which opened in December 2004. As a result the club membership has grown to 136 members.

As stated above it becomes obvious that Fred has a love of the sport, a wish to help others enjoy the sport, and make them better players. Having spent part of his life in sales, and part teaching in the Navy, has helped him in his chosen avocation in retirement that of promoting Croquet.

Fred Jones was inducted into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame in 2005.