Harry L. Jones, Sr., served as the fourth County Manager of Mecklenburg County, N.C., from October 2000 –
May 2013. As County Manager, Jones was responsible for recommending an annual budget to the Board of
County Commissioners and for the day-to-day operations of Mecklenburg County government and its 4,400 full-time employees. Mecklenburg County serves more than 900,000 residents and has an annual operating budget of $1.3 billion. Prior to being named County Manager, Jones had served as Assistant County Manager since 1991.
Jones has had a long and varied career in public administration. Prior to joining Mecklenburg County, he was housing compliance director for the City of Dallas, Texas. He also held several other positions for the City of
Dallas, including assistant city manager, director of court services, and director of housing and neighborhood services. He was community development director for the City of Charlotte from 1981-1984; executive director of the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority from 1978-1981; and, assistant director for operations for the City of Raleigh Housing Authority from 1976-1977.
Prior to beginning his public service career, Jones was a sales representative with Procter and Gamble in
Atlanta, Georgia.
Jones holds two degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: a 1972 bachelor’s in political science and a 1980 master of public administration. Additionally, Jones received his Associate in Arts degree from Sandhills Community College located in Pinehurst North Carolina in 1970. Additionally, Jones has been a participant in and graduate of the following leadership programs; Leadership Charlotte, Leadership Dallas,
American Leadership Forum, Public Executive Institute through the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the
University of Texas, and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
Jones has been active in many civic and professional activities which include: Board member and campaign chairman for the United Way of Central Carolinas; board member for Urban League of the Central Carolinas; board member for KIPP Charlotte; board member for the National Forum for Black Public Administrators; board member for the Sisters of Mercy Foundation; board member for Champions for Education; board member for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont; board member for the Metro-YMCA of Greater Charlotte; board member for the Arts and Science Council; co-chairman and board member for the Critical Needs
Response Fund task force through the Foundation for the Carolinas; and, board member for Charlotte Center

City Partners. In March 2005, Jones was elected president of the National Forum for Black Public
Administrators, a 2,500-member organization. He was re-elected president in March 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Public Administration in November 2006 and to the University of North Carolina
Board of Visitors the same year. Jones currently serves as President for the North Carolina City and County
Managers Association.
Jones has been recognized throughout his life and career with various awards that include: Leadership
Charlotte’s Schley R. Lyons Circle of Excellence Award and the Marks of Excellence for Public Service
Leadership Award from the National Forum for Black Public Administrators in 2012;The 2012 Donald Hayman
Distinguished Public Service Award from the Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill Master of Public Administration Program; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Distinguished
Alumnus Award in 2010; the 2009 recipient of the Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award given annually at the UNC Black Alumni Reunion; 2006 Pride Magazine Public Service Award; Morehouse Alumni
Association Community Service “Beacon of Light” Award, 2002; the Charlotte Post “People of Prominence”
Award, 2001; 2008 Father of the Year Award by the Charlotte Father’s Day Council, an affiliate of the
American Diabetes Association; 2008 Whitney M. Young Award from the Urban League of the Central
Carolinas;2009 Man of the Year Award from the Charlotte Club of the Negro Women and Professional
Women; and the 2006 Citizen of the Year Award from the Charlotte Black Women’s Caucus.
While a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, Jones was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece (the University’s oldest and highest honorary society), the Order of the Grail and the Society of Janus. At Sandhills Community
College, he was elected Student Government Association president and was the recipient of the school’s R.P.
Beasley Award for outstanding student leadership. In 1991, he received Sandhills Community College’s
Distinguished Alumni Award.
Jones is a native of Southern Pines, North Carolina. He and his wife, Becky, have four children and five grandchildren. He is a member of Little Rock A.M. E. Zion Church.