Ray Elliott (right), President of the James Jones Literary Society, Society board member John R. "Jack" Morris (left), and Robinson Mayor Wally Dean present the new signs honoring Robinson's famous author.
By Ray Elliott, President, James Jones Literary Society
More than 40 years after he left east-central Illinois never to return, novelist James Jones' hometown of Robinson, Illinois, welcomed him back permanently with signs at the city limits telling the world he was a native son.
The dedication ceremony for the signs was to be held at the city limit sign on the Trimble Spur (State Route 1A) on Wednesday, May 17, 2000, but was moved to the City Council chambers because of rain. There, Society board members helped unveil the nearly 6-feet-by-3-feet sign, the largest approved by the state of Illinois.
Robinson Mayor Wally Dean said recognition of Jones in Robinson was "long overdue."
"Our community has failed to recognize James Jones," Dean said, "and I want to start to reverse that trend."
Kaylie Jones, the author's daughter, was unable to attend the ceremony but sent the following statement:
"I am terribly sorry to be unable to join you on this momentous occasion, but previous obligations are keeping me away from Robinson today. "It is truly a great day for American literature when one of its master writers is recognized by his hometown. James Jones was first and foremost an American: He loved his country, particularly the Midwest, and his home of Robinson.
"But it is the job of every great novelist to be honest and truthful in his portrayal of places and characters he loves, even if such a portrayal includes the darker and less positive sides of life. And I can tell you from personal experience that even while James Jones lived the expatriate life abroad, he never lost sight of his roots, his origins--nor did he ever lose his Midwesterner's accent and down-to-earth dignity--and he remained to the end a staunch defender of his homeland.
"He had planned for years to bring the family back to Robinson for a visit, but he ran out of time. Perhaps he felt that he might not have been completely welcome and thus resisted his desire to show his children his hometown.
"Now, 23 years after his death, he is being welcomed home in honor. I thank you all for being here today and making this possible."