Keynote Speaker:
FCSSGA September Conference 2012

Bruce Wayne Jones, Director of Decatur Youth Services 

Bruce was born in Courtland, Alabama in 1962. His father was killed by a drunk driver when Bruce was 8 years old, and his mother died of cancer when he was 12. Bruce has two sons, Blair and Jackson. He graduated from Courtland High School in 1981 and earned a football scholarship to the University of North Alabama (UNA), where he was a college football All-American defensive back. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1986 and was released by the Bears and picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987. He graduated from UNA with a BS in Social Work. For three (3) years, he worked for Decatur General Hospital in the Psychiatric Department as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Aftercare Coordinator. He accepted the job as the Director of the City of Decatur Youth Services Department in October, 1994. Bruce has coordinated several pilot programs with the Decatur City Schools and has motivated numerous youth to never give up on life and to always try again. As the Director of Decatur Youth Services, he enjoys working with every member of the community in a cooperative manner, which results in the youth being the beneficiaries of a collective effort. He will strive to see that every youth organization and program is what it should be for all of the youth in the city of Decatur. In October 1996, Bruce was inducted in the UNA’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into The Morgan County Sports Hall Of Fame and the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame. He was selected as one of Essence Magazine’s 2008 “Do Right Man" of the Year.

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