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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 12:36 pm
 Jolanda "Jo" Jones attended Alief Elsik High School in Houston, Texas, where she graduated magna cum laude and was an All-American in both track and field and basketball. She is the only person to win the Texas State 5A Team Championship as an individual. After high school, Jones went on to graduate magna cum laude with a degree in political science from the University of Houston. She served on numerous university and community boards and organizations and was a member of the student government. Jones was nominated by the university for a Rhodes scholarship and received the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. In 1995, Jones earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center. She is currently self-employed as a lawyer/consultant/community activist. Jones was the 1989 US Track and Field Heptathlon Champion and earned an unprecedented three NCAA heptathlon championships. She was the runner-up for SWC Female Athlete of the Decade for the 80s, two-time Academic All-American while at the University of Houston and a 1989 NCAA Top Six Award winner. An abusive relationship forced Jones to retire from track and field for seven years. Despite the odds, she resumed training while working part-time as a corporate lawyer. Within three months, she had qualified for the 1996 US Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, her 19 year-old brother was murdered two weeks before she was to compete. His death and her meager five months of training proved too much to overcome (although she did win the high jump portion of the heptathlon and was in sixth place after three events). After competing in three events, she became severely dehydrated and was forced to withdraw. Such accomplishments have earned Jones a spot in the Cougar Hall of Fame at the University of Houston Athletic/Alumni Center. She was inducted into the GTE (Verizon) Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1999. She was inducted into the Texas Black Hall of Fame in 2003. Jones largely credits her success to her tumultuous childhood. When she was 13 months old, her father committed suicide while she was in the room. Her mother had four more children, and Jones became their primary caretaker while their mother worked. There were times when the family went without water, electricity or heat. When Jones was a teenager, their rented house burned down due to the use of candles in place of electricity. Two of her uncles committed suicide, her aunt was murdered and various members of her family are in prison and on welfare. Jones credits her criticizing mother and supportive grandmother for teaching her to be the best and stand up for the poor and disenfranchised. Jones' niece died of SIDS in 2000. Consequently, she sits on the board of the 501c(3) named after her niece, the U'jana Conley Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She also sits on the board of the Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority for the City of Houston. Jones currently resides in Houston, with her son, Jiovanni (13). Her birth date is November 6, 1965. Favorites Colors Purple Scents No favorite Flowers Bird of paradise Board Games No favorite Video Games No favorite Sports to Play Flag football, basketball, karate Sports Teams Houston Comets Outdoor Activities Sports TV Shows SURVIVOR, Sex & the City, Law & Order Movies Love & Basketball Actors Laurence Fishburne Actresses Angela Bassett Music 80s R&B Magazines Sports Illustrated, People Books/Authors The Willie Lynch Letters Cereals Rice Chex Fruits Grapes, California plums Snack Foods No favorite Cookies No favorite Candy Bars No favorite Alcoholic Drinks Strawberry daiquiri Non-Alcoholic Sweet tea http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor10/survivors/fav/jolanda.shtml
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 1:20 pm
Yay a hometown girl! This woman has been through A Lot! I hope she does well.
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Heyltslori
Member
09-15-2001
| Thursday, January 13, 2005 - 1:21 pm
Wow! She has certainly lived through a lot of tragedy! I hope she does well too!
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Bbfanatic
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, January 14, 2005 - 9:55 am
what a train wreck ! With popping out all those kids, I guess I could see not having enough money for electricity, water, heat.
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Friday, January 14, 2005 - 11:30 am
An attorney and mom, Houstonian a real 'Survivor' Jolanda Jones is the ultimate survivor. She was only 13 months old when her father entered the bedroom where she was sleeping and shot himself in the head. She endured a bleak childhood, but that didn't stop her from becoming a star student and athlete and, eventually, a respected defense attorney and community activist. Today, Jones is raising her 13-year-old son, she has a purple belt in karate, and when the appropriate time comes, she may run again for a City Council seat. Still, who would have thought Jones wanted to be the Survivor, as in the CBS reality show? Thursday her name, photo and bio were released along with those of 19 other contestants who will appear on the immensely popular show, which cranked up interest in a whole new genre in TV. It will air Thursdays starting Feb. 17 on Channel 11. The show was taped during the last few months of 2004; Jones is actually in Houston today, working. Unfortunately, she signed a confidentiality agreement promising not to talk about the show, including how it ends and who won. So who won? Jones, 39, just laughs. For the uninitiated, "castaways" are chosen from thousands of applicants and dropped in a remote location. During the taping, they build shelters, find food, and alternately compete and cooperate with the other contestants. Everybody wants to earn the $1 million jackpot. No one wants to be voted off the island, which is how contestants are systematically eliminated until there is one. This crop of contestants includes two other Texans, Coby Archa, 32, a hair stylist from Athens, and Jonathan Libby, 23, in sales and marketing in Dallas. Other contestants include a bartender, a steelworker, a Las Vegas showgirl, a nanny. They come from all over the country, and they range in age from 21 to 57. In late October, all 20 were dropped off in the Palau Islands in the Pacific Ocean, just north of the equator. This season, CBS public relations folks say, is different because it began with the largest group ever and three castaways will be sent packing in the first episode. They won't say much else except that everything Survivor fans have come to expect will be wiped out in the first 10 minutes of the show. Colleen Sullivan, a vice president for CBS publicity, says the staff searches for Type A personalities, "folks who have a voice, an opinion, and are willing to stand up for what they believe. They also need to be competitive and enjoy the outdoors. Jolanda Jones certainly fits that description." Just as Jones signed a confidentiality agreement, so did her son, Jio, and many of their friends and relatives. One person who didn't sign anything and didn't find out Jolanda had been away for the taping of the show until Thursday was an aunt, Cathy Lewis. The Postal Service manager took the news in stride. "Jolanda likes to be challenged, and she likes to strut her stuff, too. I thinks this was just perfect for her." Lewis says she asked her niece if she won, but she didn't get an answer. "I don't doubt that she did," Lewis says.
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Friday, January 14, 2005 - 11:36 am
cool article, thanks for posting it ...
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Friday, January 14, 2005 - 3:30 pm
Ladytex, thanks for posting all the info. about the survivors! 
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Lilfair
Member
07-09-2003
| Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 4:32 pm
Wow, she's alredy overcome so many hardships this Survivor show is a vacation. Good luck!
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Allietex
Member
08-16-2002
| Monday, February 07, 2005 - 1:29 pm
I can really pull for this lady. Of course it remains to be seen what her personality turns out to be. Hope I am not disappointed.
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:29 am
She's lived through a lot of hardship. But she's survived and thrived. I hope she does well, but it'll depend on her ability to adapt, which may not have been forged by her hardships...we'll see
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Monday, February 14, 2005 - 6:56 pm
I wonder if she'll play the sympathy card?
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Monday, February 14, 2005 - 8:08 pm
doubt it, she seems more like a take no prisoners, don't whine to me cuz I've been thru worse, type person.
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Monday, February 14, 2005 - 8:24 pm
I agree. I'm hoping she has a good strategy.
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Tabbyking
Member
03-11-2002
| Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 4:03 pm
wow, she's a 'survivor' so far! i hope she does well.
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 11:41 pm
Well, she was too aggressive, and it cost her. Too bad, because I liked her. However, between her and Angie leaving I would have chosen Jo. I really dig Angie...
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:26 am
She played her cards too early ... too bad ...
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Friday, February 18, 2005 - 1:57 pm
Didn't like her, just rubbed me the wrong way like chalk on a blackboard.
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Starshine40
Member
07-30-2002
| Friday, February 18, 2005 - 3:53 pm
If I were on the same tribe with her I would have voted her out too! Too irritating, too bossy.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 2:33 am
Found her bossy and arrogant; rubbed me the wrong way too. Would've voted her off as well.
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 8:10 am
Maris, like chalk on a blackboard?? Isn't that what goes on a blackboard?? Maybe you meant fingernails on a blackboard?? Sorry, just nitpickng...
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Padivius
Member
08-21-2003
| Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 11:45 am
It's too bad. From her description, it would seem like she would be a player to root for, btu after Thursday's display, I am glad she's gone. She thought far too highly of herself.
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Lexie_girl
Member
07-30-2004
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:09 pm
I wonder how Ulong would have done had they not been so quick to get rid of her.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, April 08, 2005 - 7:15 am
Good question Lexie.
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Spear
Member
08-06-2001
| Friday, April 08, 2005 - 12:35 pm
Considering Angie would have gone if Jolanda was saved and Angie did pretty well in the challenges, it doesn't seem like things would be very different if Jolanda had stayed.
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Essence
Member
01-12-2002
| Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 7:05 pm
They couldn't have done any worse with Jolanda had they voted Angie off first instead of her. Also, Jo was the only one who seemed to want to take any kind of leadership role on this team and I think that's one of the major reasons why they self destructed. This team was too laid back. She may have been able to spark something with the team or bring something out that they were lacking. Koror has leadership... Ulong had a bunch of people who all thought pretty highly of themselves (except for Angie), and no one willing to direct them... except for the first person they voted off.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 8:31 pm
Exactly, Essence! I was soooo rooting for her because she said what needed to be said!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 8:35 pm
I think there was some reason.. the first competition when Ulong tried to take too much stuff with them and lost the reward challenge. Jolanda, as I remember, pushed for them to bring more stuff, while Koror homed in on fire and won. Not the only reason, but since she was more vocal and had acted like a leader.. there she went. From episode 1 spoiling: Author Message Raenstorm Member 07-16-2004 Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 5:36 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Koror leaves their food and water and only takes their fire. Ulong, meanwhile, is far behind now. Koror to the wall and boosting people up. Raenstorm Member 07-16-2004 Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 5:37 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ulong brought their food and water but not their fire. Koror going through the swamp now. Have big lead. Now at their canoe. Twiggyish Member 08-14-2000 Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 5:38 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff saying will you take all items and try to win. Team carrying fire and leaving food and water. Jolanda is taking things and not racing. They are yelling at them to go. Ulong brought food and water..no fire. Koror brought fire. (good strategy!!) They're all getting to the canoes. paddling out. Ulong doesn't appear to have any teamwork going in wrong direction. Koror way ahead. We don't really know if Jolanda would have helped win competitions; we know now that Angie did help.
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Csnog
Member
07-18-2002
| Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 9:26 pm
Sea, Angie did help when she was approached by James, Kim, Ashley and Jeff to vote Jolanda off because she was bossy. Angie said to the camera that she was happy to go along with that as long as it wasn't her. Jolanda was not the only team member that wanted to take all of their supplies. James and a few others wanted all 3 but of course they couldn't untie all the knots. They really lost that IC because they couldn't row worth a dime. They were all over the place while Koror rowed in a straight line. Ulong had no leadership at all (EVER). They wouldn't accept Jolanda and none of the rest stepped up to the plate for fear of getting voted off. Jolanda was vocal but strong. I don't know who they should have voted off but you don't vote off your strong players first. One of their biggest mistakes was keeping James.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 11:57 am
I certainly agree that keeping James was a mistake. Yes Jolanda wasn't the only one, but she was the vocal one and she was making others nervous by being vocal so they needed a scapegoat. Of course Angie went along with voting her off; she felt she was on the chopping block otherwise, but what I meant by Angie helping was that Angie, we know, because she stayed awhile, we know she was a strong competitor. That's what I was meaning, not anything to do with how she voted in re: Jolanda.
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Csnog
Member
07-18-2002
| Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 5:04 pm
Yeah Sea Jolanda was a little pushy but I can't believe these people! What is this, season 10? In 3 days of being together on the island before being split up didn't they learn anything about each other? In the game you need a leader. You may not like them but you need them. Plan on getting rid of them later but you want to keep your strong players when you are going head to head with another team. Angie showed her stuff right away while James said he wasn't going to follow a leader and Kim was a snug bunny of Jeffs This was a leaderless team and they played it that way therefore they paid the price and are gone. Insane, foolish, dumb, pathetic. Pick one but I would guess all of them.
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Friday, April 15, 2005 - 5:35 am
You can be a quiet leader, without being obnoxious, IMHO. Jolanda's leadership technique was too 'In your face' for her to last very far in the game. I wouldn't have voted her out first...but I can understand why she was a target. I don't think anything(or anyone) could've helped Ulong win any more challenges than they did.
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