Roddy Jones, who started as a humble carpenter in his father’s construction company, transformed Raleigh from a quiet Southern town into a modern metropolis. As president of Davidson & Jones, he built landmarks like Crabtree Valley Mall and the Civic Center while championing education through the Wake Education Partnership. The 88-year-old visionary leaves behind more than just buildings – his fingerprints are all over Raleigh’s evolution into the dynamic city it is today.
Roddy Jones, a titan of Raleigh’s construction industry who helped transform the city from a sleepy Southern town into a bustling metropolis, died at the milestone of 88.
Starting as a humble carpenter at Davidson & Jones, the construction company his father Seby B. Jones co-founded in 1935, Roddy worked his way up to become president. Under his leadership, the company pivoted from building houses to tackling major commercial projects that would reshape Raleigh’s skyline forever.
His early career began after graduating from Needham B. Broughton High School before joining the family business.
You name it, Jones probably built it. Crabtree Valley Mall? That was him. The Raleigh Civic and Convention Center? Yep. The American Airlines terminal at RDU? Check. The North Raleigh Hilton? Another Jones masterpiece. The man literally constructed the bones of modern Raleigh. Like the modernist movement from Bauhaus to MIT, his work emphasized the relationship between functionality and design.
But Jones wasn’t just about putting up buildings. He had a particular soft spot for education. He championed the Wake Education Partnership, North Carolina’s initial independent local educational fund. He served as Chair of East Carolina University’s Board of Trustees and even did a stint leading the UNC System’s Board of Governors, where he pushed through significant reforms. His vision aligned perfectly with Raleigh’s robust job market, which continues to drive population growth and housing demand.
His impact on vocational training was similarly impressive. Jones helped establish the Carolinas Construction Training Council, ensuring future generations would have the skills to build tomorrow’s cities. He also left his mark on local education by constructing East Wake High School and Southeast Raleigh High School.
The fourth-generation family business continues to thrive, a reflection of Jones’s long-term vision. His contributions didn’t go unnoticed – in 2019, he was inducted into both the Raleigh Hall of Fame and Wake County Public School System Hall of Fame.
From carpenter to community leader, Jones wore many hats during his lifetime. He served as Chair of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and sat on numerous college boards, including Peace College and Ravenscroft School.
But perhaps his greatest legacy is the city itself – a dynamic metropolitan center that bears his fingerprints on nearly every corner.