Temple University Athletics
Temple Mourns Passing of Longtime PA Announcer Merv Jones
6.3.20 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Athletics mourns the passing of longtime public address announcer and former athletics communications assistant director Merv Jones, who passed away Monday following a long bout with cancer. He was 54.
"All of Temple Athletics is in mourning due to the loss of a great man and Owl, Merv Jones," said Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "For three decades, Merv's booming voice delivered the action of Temple Football and Basketball games to fans at Lincoln Financial Field, the Liacouras Center and McGonigle Hall. A Temple grad and former staff member, he was the consummate professional and beloved by our entire community.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Andrea, and two children Merven and Jayna."
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Jones graduated from Temple University in 1988 with a degree in Radio, Television and Film. His first job was with the Emmy award-winning, nationally syndicated sports series Greatest Sports Legends as a producer, director and writer. At GSL Mr. Jones worked with such athletes as: Jim Brown, Deion Sanders, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Florence Griffith-Joyner and others. He served as a creative force at GSL, writing many of the company's promotional materials, while also producing the Future Legends series of specials, and co-producing the A&E series, The Gifted Ones.
In 1993, Mr. Jones left GSL and formed his own company - M. T. Pockets Productions, Inc. which specializes in supporting his creative visions and those of his wife, Andrea, who he met while attending Temple. Through his company, he ran the gamut of the entertainment industry, writing, producing and directing critically acclaimed work such as Can't Wait, a short film about sexuality as it is experienced through the eyes of an African-American teenage male; Bills, Bills, Bills, a comedy short, featured in the video library of the 2001 IFP Market and the 2001 Toronto Film Festival; and Doing Windows, which was featured at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival's screenwriter's lab.
In 1998, Mr. Jones returned to Temple as an adjunct professor, teaching a course entitled 'Racism in College Athletics' while also taking over as the PA announcer at Temple Football and Basketball games, with his voice becoming a fixture for Temple fans at Owl home games. He would also serve as the PA announcer for NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games (2006, 2012) and the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional.
Two years later, in 2000, Mr. Jones joined the Temple Athletics staff on a full-time basis, serving as an assistant director in the Owls' media relations department. There he worked directly with women's volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's basketball. He stayed at Temple for four years, assisting the new women's basketball coach and future Naismith Hall of Famer Dawn Staley with her media duties.
In 2004, Mr. Jones left his position with Temple's media relations department to work with Steve Rotfeld Productions (SRP) in suburban Philadelphia. There he produced several educational and informational (E/I), nationally-syndicated TV series. He was also responsible for co-creating and producing the E/I series Whaddyado, and ChatRoom. In addition, he co-produced programs for cable networks while at SRP including Really Reckless Drivers and Wild Weddings.
Besides his wife and children, Mr. Jones is survived by his loving parents, Mervin and Catherine, his sisters, Angela and Kathy Beverly, and his brother, André, He will also be missed by a host of nieces and nephews that love him dearly.
Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions for the funeral therefore it will just be a private family homegoing. However, on June 8th friends will have the option to view the service via livestream through www.bethelwilmington.org (Scroll down and there is a place to click for Facebook on the left or Youtube streaming on the right.) The live streaming will begin promptly at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Autism Delaware or the Bethel AME church of Wilmington Scholarship committee as these are both organizations that Mr. Jones supported with a passion.
"All of Temple Athletics is in mourning due to the loss of a great man and Owl, Merv Jones," said Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "For three decades, Merv's booming voice delivered the action of Temple Football and Basketball games to fans at Lincoln Financial Field, the Liacouras Center and McGonigle Hall. A Temple grad and former staff member, he was the consummate professional and beloved by our entire community.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Andrea, and two children Merven and Jayna."
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Jones graduated from Temple University in 1988 with a degree in Radio, Television and Film. His first job was with the Emmy award-winning, nationally syndicated sports series Greatest Sports Legends as a producer, director and writer. At GSL Mr. Jones worked with such athletes as: Jim Brown, Deion Sanders, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Florence Griffith-Joyner and others. He served as a creative force at GSL, writing many of the company's promotional materials, while also producing the Future Legends series of specials, and co-producing the A&E series, The Gifted Ones.
In 1993, Mr. Jones left GSL and formed his own company - M. T. Pockets Productions, Inc. which specializes in supporting his creative visions and those of his wife, Andrea, who he met while attending Temple. Through his company, he ran the gamut of the entertainment industry, writing, producing and directing critically acclaimed work such as Can't Wait, a short film about sexuality as it is experienced through the eyes of an African-American teenage male; Bills, Bills, Bills, a comedy short, featured in the video library of the 2001 IFP Market and the 2001 Toronto Film Festival; and Doing Windows, which was featured at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival's screenwriter's lab.
In 1998, Mr. Jones returned to Temple as an adjunct professor, teaching a course entitled 'Racism in College Athletics' while also taking over as the PA announcer at Temple Football and Basketball games, with his voice becoming a fixture for Temple fans at Owl home games. He would also serve as the PA announcer for NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games (2006, 2012) and the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional.
Two years later, in 2000, Mr. Jones joined the Temple Athletics staff on a full-time basis, serving as an assistant director in the Owls' media relations department. There he worked directly with women's volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's basketball. He stayed at Temple for four years, assisting the new women's basketball coach and future Naismith Hall of Famer Dawn Staley with her media duties.
In 2004, Mr. Jones left his position with Temple's media relations department to work with Steve Rotfeld Productions (SRP) in suburban Philadelphia. There he produced several educational and informational (E/I), nationally-syndicated TV series. He was also responsible for co-creating and producing the E/I series Whaddyado, and ChatRoom. In addition, he co-produced programs for cable networks while at SRP including Really Reckless Drivers and Wild Weddings.
Besides his wife and children, Mr. Jones is survived by his loving parents, Mervin and Catherine, his sisters, Angela and Kathy Beverly, and his brother, André, He will also be missed by a host of nieces and nephews that love him dearly.
Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions for the funeral therefore it will just be a private family homegoing. However, on June 8th friends will have the option to view the service via livestream through www.bethelwilmington.org (Scroll down and there is a place to click for Facebook on the left or Youtube streaming on the right.) The live streaming will begin promptly at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Autism Delaware or the Bethel AME church of Wilmington Scholarship committee as these are both organizations that Mr. Jones supported with a passion.
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