The new clock is located on the corner of Hazel and Kentucky Streets. The gold Rotary emblem can be seen in the clock face. 

GRIDLEY (MPG) – Gridley officially has a new timepiece downtown. 

The long-awaited Rotary clock was unveiled on Monday, June 30. The clock was placed in honor of Rotary’s centennial and the late Dick Jones.               

The ceremony was led by outgoing Rotary President Lynne Spencer. This was Spencer’s last event as president and the crowning accomplishment of her tenure. President Spencer was “honored” last week by getting “arrested” and put in the Red Suspender’s Day jail at the weekly Rotary meeting.   

About 50 people were present for the clock unveiling, including Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue, City Administrator Elisa Arteaga, Councilmember J. Angel Calderon and Rotary District Governor Steve Turner. Dick Jones’ wife, Donna; sister, Beverly; daughters, Patti and Cheryl; and son, Steve, and his wife; also attended. 

Outgoing Rotary President Lynne Spencer collected $20,000 to fund the clock. 

Spencer spoke of what an honor it was to serve during the centennial year of Gridley’s Rotary Club. Each president chooses a project to work on for the year and Spencer’s was the clock. Funds totaling $20,000 were collected from 37 donors over a period of about nine months. 

Rotarian Dan Boeger shared memories of Dick Jones, relating that when the Gridley Museum burned down, Jones saved the American flag. 

Gridley Mayor Mike Farr was unable to attend but prepared written remarks that were read by Councilmember Calderon: “This clock will serve as a daily reminder of our shared commitment to progress, unity and honoring of both our history and our future.”

Representing Congressman Doug LaMalfa, Teri DuBose awarded the Rotary Club a plaque of congressional recognition and thanked the Rotary Club for the service rendered to the community over the years.  

Next, Steve Jones thanked everyone for remembering his father who gave countless hours of service as part of Gridley Rotary for 50 years.  Dick Jones’ grandfather settled in Gridley in 1907, where the family was raised and attended Gridley schools. 

Steve and Debbie Jones are shown here next to the clock honoring Steve’s father, Dick Jones. 

“Dad loved this community. He loved the people. He loved interacting, sharing, visiting and volunteering whenever he could,” said Steve Jones. 

“During fair time, you could always find dad at the Rotary booth with Dan and Howard, pouring beer and barbecuing,” he continued. “We grew accustomed over the years to tagging along with dad on all of the projects needed around town, whether it was cleaning something up, painting something, building something; we liked that.”

Dick Jones was known in the community for his contributions to Gridley Little League and its youth players.

“Dad loved baseball and tried to make sure that nothing stood in the way of a kid playing baseball, whether he paid their registration fees to make sure they could play, got them a uniform, got them a glove, whatever they needed,”  Steve Jones said. 

In addition to the newly dedicated clock, Jones passion for baseball was previously commemorated with the dedication of “Dick Jones Memorial Field” or the large diamond at Manuel Vierra Park in Gridley.