Larry Bruce Jones, 79, departed this life on Thursday, May 30, 2013. He was born on December 18, 1933, in Pottsville, Arkansas, the son of Ishmael and Floyd Bruce Porter Jones. Larry was an ardent LSU supporter who truly understood, "Love purple live gold." Larry played football for LSU from 1951-54 as a center and a linebacker. He earned his bacherlor's degree in education from LSU in 1956, before joining the U. S. Air Force. In 1957, while stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, Larry was named to the All-Air Force football team. After being discharged from the Air Force at the rank of Captain, Larry returned to LSU and joined Coach Paul Dietzel's staff for the 1958 football season, the first year the Tigers won the national championship. Larry also continued his studies at LSU, earning a master's degree in education in 1961. Larry then followed Coach Dietzel to Army and South Carolina, where he served on the football coaching staffs. While at South Carolina, Larry was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Larry also served as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for Tennessee and as defensive coordinator for the University of Kansas. Larry was head coach at Florida State University for three years and led the Seminoles to the Fiesta Bowl in 1971, his first season. In 1979, Larry declined an opportunity to join the Dallas Cowboys scouting department to return to LSU as an associate athletics director. In 1989, after twice serving as LSU's interim athletics director, Larry turned the page on a successful run as a football coach and sports administrator and began his career as a fundraiser for the LSU Alumni Association. Larry became a chief fundraiser for the LSU Alumni Association, raising more than $35 million dollars in contributions for LSU scholarships professorships, and facilities over the course of 23 years. In recognition of his achievements, Larry was named the LSU Alumni Association's 2013 Alumnus of the Year. Larry is survived by his loving wife, Velma Arledge Jones; three children, David Bruce Jones (Ede) of Memphis, TN; Kevin Scott Jones (Norma); and Laura Jones Danda (David) of Atlanta, GA; two step-children, Allison Thornton of Mandeville, LA and Alton Dale Thornton, Jr. (Kerry). Larry was the proud grandfather of Ashley Jones Territo (Rob), Katlin Jones, Kristin Jones Scarbrough (Michael), Cody Jones, Tyler Jones, Harrison Jones, Caleb Thornton, Cole Thonton, Caroline Thornton, Katherine Olinde, James Olinde, and Anna Olinde. He also leaves two great-grandchildren, Madden Jones, and Maddox Scarbrough; a sister, Lyn Nelle Jones Isbell of Sarasota, FL; a niece, Viki Isbell Teichgraeber (Richard) of Dallas, TX; and a nephew, James Isbell (Kim) of Milford, DE. Larry was preceded in death by his first wife, Judith Bianchi Jones; his father, Ishmael E. Jones; his mother, Floy Bruce Jones; a brother, Howard "Hal" Jones; and a brother-in-law, James Isbell.