A native of High Point, North Carolina, Joe Jones learned to wrestle from athletics pioneer Tony Simeon. Jones joined the United States Marine Corps, served in Korea, and earned the ranks of gunnery sergeant and sergeant major. By 1961, Jones had left the Marine Corps and was enrolled at Davidson College, wrestling for Coach Charlie Parker. In the mid 1960s Jones began officiating. He was a baseball umpire for 35 years and a football and wrestling official for over 50 years.  In February 2012, Jones called his 50th North Carolina High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament at the age of 75. Known for his signature high and tight haircut and no-nonsense style of officiating, he kept both coaches and athletes in line for over five decades in North Carolina.