Description: (9th United States Secretary of Commerce (1940 - 1945))
Jesse H. Jones was a prominent American Democratic politician and entrepreneur. He established successful ventures in lumberyards, real estate, commercial building, and banking, including the South Texas Lumber Company. Jones played key roles in civic life, leading initiatives for the Port of Houston, American Red Cross, and Houston's bid for the 1928 Democratic National Convention. His most significant role was as the Chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, overseeing significant spending to combat the Great Depression and support industrial expansion during World War II.