“Little All-America” was the honor awarded to small college athletes for decades. That label is barely enough for Dan Jones (b. Jun 6, 1960), a Portland native who packed an impressive amount of athletic achievement into a career on the smaller stages of sport.

His three-sport career at Lewis and Clark College earned him national recognition including a large spread in Sports Illustrated at the beginning of the 1980’s.

The die was cast during Dan’s high school days at Marshall. Jones was a FIVE sport athlete and he won a variety of PIL league honors for at least two of his years in football, basketball, baseball and soccer. He also played amateur hockey, later saying he regretted giving up that activity.

When he began his college career at Lewis and Clark, he cut back to JUST three sports, and would continue to excel at all of them, winning Northwest Conference awards in football, basketball and baseball.

On the football field, Jones set records that stand to this day, most total receiving yards in the Northwest Conference and best all-time field goal kicking percentage. Dan was nationally honored as a second team All-America for NAIA schools and AP college division. That was the newer moniker for “Little All American.”

On the hardwood, Jones started three seasons and again achieved national recognition, winning the Emil Liston Award, given to an NAIA multi-sport athlete who best combined athletic ability and academics.

It was baseball that took Dan Jones the farthest in athletics. He was a hard hitting third baseman and outfielder, who was, of course, also recognized for his defense. His second set of NAIA national honors were for his diamond exploits and he is still the only small college player ever chosen to play for team USA. Jones was drafted by the San Diego Padres and had a brief minor league career before finally hanging up his spikes… and glove…. and helmet… and cleats and all of his other implements and uniform parts.

Dan would continue in the arena for decades at Nike and Converse. It is unlikely any collegiate athlete will ever repeat his accomplishments in so many arenas. Fittingly, he is already a member of several Halls of Fame, so now we welcome Dan Jones to this arena, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.