Yocum Hall manager earns M.D.

As a part of its series in celebration of Black History Month, the Razorback Athletic Department is saluting Trailblazers from the African-American community who have attended the University of Arkansas. Several of the honorees in our series were also selected as Silas Hunt Legacy Award recipients recently.

Native Arkansan Dr. Bobby Wayne Jones is the fourth of seven children born to the late Arlee and Earnestine Jones. He grew up in Altheimer and graduated as salutatorian from Altheimer High School in 1979.He earned a bachelor’s degree from the U of A in 1984. As a student, he served in many capacities ranging from orientation leader to Yocum Hall manager. His college honors include Students Taking A New Dimension, Cardinal Key, and Who’s Who. He was cited as a Distinguished Alumnus at the 2005 Black Alumni Society Reunion. He and his wife established the Sammie Perry-Earnestine Jones Perseverance Scholarship, named in honor of his grandmother and mother. It is annually awarded to an upperclass student from Jefferson, Phillips, or Ouachita counties.He earned an M.D. from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1990. While in medical school, he served as a medical service corps officer with the Arkansas Army National Guard. Upon graduation, he entered active duty and, in 1993, completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Augusta, Ga.Subsequent assignments included Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. While at Tripler, he served as the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program Region 12 Director and was responsible for the overall evaluation of all Persian Gulf War veterans stationed in the Pacific and Asia. Operational assignments included brigade surgeon and flight surgeon duties for the famous “Rock of the Marne” Division. Deployments include the National Training Center, Joint Readiness Training Center, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.His next assignment was with the 67th Combat Support Hospital in Wurzburg, Germany. As the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services for the 67th CSH in Tikrit, Iraq, he was responsible for the overall medical and evacuation services for more than 15,000 coalition forces, third country, and local nationals within north central Iraq. For his services, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Other military awards, decorations, and special skill badges include the NATO, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Army Achievement, Army Commendation (2), and Meritorious Service (2) Medals, and the Air Assault and Flight Surgeon Badges.He is active in his church and maintains life memberships in the Arkansas Alumni Association, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He is a board certified internist and currently assigned as the commander of the Tuttle Army Health Clinic on Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga.

He is married to the former Corine Ackerson, and they have one son, Bradley.

The University of Arkansas’ Office of University Relations provided the content of today’s salute. For more information on the Silas Hunt Legacy Award Event, please jump here.