t wasn't hard to convince Tom Jones to support the Stanford Graduate Fellowships program. A leader of the aeronautics industry and a former trustee of both Stanford and Cal Tech, Jones has advised throughout his career against universities relying too heavily on government contracts for research and technological development funding.

Jones began his long career in aeronautics in 1941 when he took a summer job as an engineer at Douglas Aircraft Company. He continued working there, full time, after graduating from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1942. In 1953, he joined Northrop Corporation as assistant chief engineer, and quickly moved up to become president in 1959, CEO in 1960, and chairman of the board in 1963, a position he held until he retired in 1990. In spite of his busy career, Jones maintained a strong relationship with the School of Engineering and Stanford as a member of the Board of Trustees and of the School of Engineering Advisory Council. He has also served as a volunteer and supporter of various fundraising efforts at the university.

"As the head of an advanced technology company in aeronautics, I became aware that it was basic knowledge and basic research that are the foundation of everything we do in this country, and that has made us leaders of the world. I feel that the best research can be done by young people with excellent professors in the best schools." It is this sentiment that has made Jones a strong advocate of the Stanford Graduate Fellowships program. He feels it is unwise to have so many government contracts -- it limits the scope and creativity of the work done by students and their professors. "The best discoveries are made when people work on projects that interest them the most."

Jones calls the program "brilliant!" and praises President Casper for his farsighted vision in proposing the initiative. He believes other research universities will follow in StanfordŐs footsteps, and that, ultimately, it will greatly benefit not only research universities but society as a whole. "Nearly all the applications of advanced technology that we see in Silicon Valley and other places are based on new knowledge coming from basic research. It is important that these activities not only be maintained but increased -- research is the life-blood of advancement." For this reason he feels that support for this program should come from anyone who, like himself, has had a chance to witness the need for advancing fundamental knowledge and who realizes that this is the basis for creating new and better products and improving life in this country.