Coach Harold Jones

Coach Harold Jones is a retired South Carolina high school football coach best known for embracing a developmentally challenged African American boy named James Robert "Radio" Kennedy back in 1964. His role as Radio's mentor was immortalized in the Sony Pictures film, "Radio."

In 1964, Jones noticed a young man who would hold a transistor radio to his ear and come to football practice every day. The 18-year-old James Robert Kennedy, nicknamed “Radio” because of his obsession with radios, had a developmental handicap and wasn't able to read or write. Harold Jones noticed that he would sort of mimick the coaches and players on the sidelines. Jones bought Radio a hamburger and a coke and the two really hit off. Radio started attending all of the practices and practically became a team mascot. Jones promised the boy's mother that he would help keep him out of trouble, so he arranged to have Radio attend Hanna High School as a junior.

In 1996, a writer for Sports Illustrated named Gary Smith penned an article about Jones's friendship with Radio. Not much later, director Michael Tollin helped bring the story to life in the movie "Radio" starring Ed Harris as Coach Jones and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Radio. By 1999, Jones was set to retire and Radio was still running strong with the team. His successors have taken good care of Radio and considered him an integral part of the team. Jones and Radio were friends for over 50 years until Radio passed away at 73 on 15 December 2019. His funeral service was held a few days later, and in lieu of flowers, Jones wrote that memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club or the Outdoor Dream Foundation, both charities that Jones and Radio supported during their time together.