WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - West Springfield's Eastern States Exposition (ESE) former president and CEO George Jones has died at age 91, said the organization on Thursday. Jones was born in May 1933 and grew up in Hanover, Mass. He suffered from polio as an infant which caused coordination challenges that impacted his life in competing in sports. Actively involved in agriculture at a young age, Jones and his family raised sheep and exhibited them at local fairs including as a 4-H member displaying sheep at The Big E. Jimmy Carter honored at state funeral in DC before Georgia burial: ‘He loved people’ Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from UMass and began his career at ESE in 1969 as assistant general manager, in 1976 to general manager, and officially as president and chief executive officer from 1989 to 1991. During his tenure, Jones faced scrutiny when an engineering study led him to make the difficult decision to close the beloved ice rink in the Coliseum permanently following the 1990-1991 season. Jones contributed to significant capital improvements such as the Young Building, Storrowton Carriage House, renovations to the Brooks Building, Mallary Agricultural Complex, and the Visitor's Centers. He is credited for leading the expansion of the Fair from ten to twelve days, and, under his leadership, attendance exceeded one million in 1978. He was the last CEO to work alongside founder Joshua L. Brooks. "Sometimes newspaper obits sound as though the person who died could walk on water. If the truth be known, I spent more time treading water."George Jones Citing age and health considerations, Jones retired at age 58 from the ESE. On Dec. 30, 2024, Jones passed away at age 91. He left his family and friends a self-penned farewell note in place of a formal obituary which read in part, "“Sometimes newspaper obits sound as though the person who died could walk on water. If the truth be known, I spent more time treading water.” Local News Headlines Massachusetts State Police release Body Camera footage of Nick Cocchi arrest Holyoke to hold special election January 28th O’Dell Women’s Center presents $250K to eight non-profits serving low-income women from Springfield Former president and CEO of Eastern States Exposition George Jones has died, leaving self-penned note in lieu of obituary WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.