The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-06-20
Noted Fight Manager to Be
Here Tomorrow with the
SeIIs-FIotO Circus.

Some time back the sport writer's
were fond Of referring to the late
Billy Delaney, Of. California, as the
real maker OF champions" because
he had developed and brought out
Jim Corbett and Jim Jeffries. All Of
this was based on great deal OF
truth but the real maker OF cham
pions" OF the present day is one
Thomas Edward Jones. OF LaSalle,
ILL.,, present manager OF Jess Willard,
worlds champion among all boxers
Tom will be in the city tomorrow
with Willard. who, with Frank
Gotch and several other sterling ath-
letes, are stars of the athletic section
OF the famous Sells Floto circus. Jack
Curley Is co-partner with Jones in
the handling OF Wizards affairs and
Jack goes on ahead of the circus to
smooth the ways. Jones. however.
has actual charge of the athletic fea-
lures of the big show.
II you've never met Jones you have
missed something. He is no word
miser at any time but n firm believer
in telling the world about the merits
OF the men he has in charge. Doubt
less you will hear something OF him
or from him when he reaches our
fair city.
a story Of Tom Jones's sporting ca
reer verges on the romantic and at
times on the sensational. His first
ding at the sporting game was with
Billy Papke. then known as the Till
nois Thunderbolt. Just about the
time that Billy was an undeveloped
minor Lacquer, Jones was running q
little athletic club in LaSalle, H.,
and barely getting by with II. Tom
was tho sporting authority Of the
village but that didn't get him much
and Tom yearned for bigger field.
He conceived q champion in the
hard hitting Papke and signed him to
contract. Bits home was in Ke-
vance. H.. and the public did not
seem to think a great deal OF him,
But that didn't deter Jones and he
started out to convince 'em. That
he did so is shown by the fact that
he steered Bill into the middle weight
championship. taking the honors
from the late Stanley Ketchel in a
fierce encounter on the coast.
After Papke had run his race and
had stepped back into retirement.
Jones, realizing that championship
meant a whole lot OF money for Tight
ers and manager. began to cast about
for n new one 10 boom into title.
Ad Wolgast. then a $35 preliminary
boy on the coast, caught Toms eye.
He looked like he might be boosted
NJ nj ii al
up. Presto. the magic worked again
and inside of few short months
Jones had matched Wolgast with
Battling Nelson for the worlds light
weight title and stood by while Ad
annexed the big honor.
Remembering that Pakpe had
proflted by having "Thunderbolt"
hung upon him he nicknamed Ad the
Michigan Bearcat" and 1t stuck.
Jones's intimate knowledge OF the
game and It's possibilities quickly
made AID Wolgast the richest lighter
in the business.
Tom wasn't satisfied. He wanted a
real worlds champion Of all cham
piOnB and began to ask himself where
he could find somebody TO beat Jack
Johnson, then one Of the most obnOx-
iouS fighters the world had known.
He caught sight of willard and the
deed was done. That's the fellow
for me-" he said as he grabbed the
big ex-horsetrader from Kansas.
But Il was feat that brought out
every ounce Of Jones' wonderful ex-
ecutive and financial ability. What
Jones and willard went through be-
fore Jess caught Johnson with a
right hand swing on the chin in the
twenty-slxth round Of that battle in
Havana will never be known or ap-
precIated by the fight fans OF the
world. They were in positive want
at different times during their chase
of the once mighty negro. but II all
turned out fine. and a fortune finally
crowned their efforts.
Aside from being Wizards mana
ger. Jones has been given complete
charge Of the athletic features OF
the Sells-Floto circus by Harry Tam
men. controlling owner or the show.