Trailblazing Alumna Shines in Competitive Race Walking

Janet Chandler Jones (B.S. ’79, M.B.A. ’83) has spent the last several years walking her way to multiple championship titles — literally. It began with the desire to try something new and an idea with an old friend to seek out a niche area where they might excel. What followed was an athletic pursuit that would see her claiming national accolades in an unexpected sport: race walking.

"We kept thinking, 'Well, maybe we could figure out something that not as many people enter,'” she explains. “We kind of challenged each other to learn race walking.”

At her very first competition, the 2010 Texas Senior Games, she competed in two races. To her own amazement, she came in first for her age group in both. The wins qualified her for the National Senior Games the following year, and with the help of a friend, she began to train, gaining strength and speed. The games arrived, and she walked away with two national championships. She has continued race walking ever since, participating in the yearly state competitions, the biannual national games and numerous other races. She has traveled to compete in various locations and looks forward to participating in the nationals again next year.

It’s not surprising that Jones would find success in a unique field — in the realm of academics, she was also a trailblazer. The sole female recipient of a UH scholarship from her high school, she entered the University of Houston with a keen interest in the burgeoning field of computer science.

“I was one of those early IT nerds,” she reflects, recalling the days when cutting-edge technology meant accessing the limited computers on campus.

And while Jones claims that athletics didn’t define her earlier years, her time at the University of Houston contained impressive displays of stamina. She was a Cougar Doll in the marching band, and in her junior year, helped organize a fundraiser for Camp Cougar, a summer day camp for children with disabilities. The event was a 24-hour dance marathon, which she participated in for the full duration.

After graduating in 1979, Jones began a career at Shell that would last 33 years.

"When I first started, it was wild,” she recalls, “because actually at Shell it was a step backward from UH where we had all really good computers set up and were learning the new way of doing things."

But it soon became a joy to be part of the company’s expanding IT department.

"I really enjoyed it!” she shares. "I liked working with people the best and trying to help them change the way they were doing things, giving the right training and support so they would actually use what we were building for them."

With Shell’s financial support, she was able to return to UH part time and earn her MBA in ’83. Over the duration of her career, she had a lot of flexibility to do different assignments and project management. Her favorite part was always helping people. In retirement, her generous spirit has continued to thrive through volunteering for organizations like Meals on Wheels and supporting a local women’s home where she helps with classes and preparation for job hunting.

Inspired by her own personal experiences, Janet is committed to giving back in ways that reflect the opportunities she was afforded during her time at UH. She has established a planned giving gift in her will and regularly donates along with her husband, who also attended UH for graduate school. She would like her gift to go towards academic scholarships, helping future students find their paths. Through her contributions, her innovative career and her passionate pursuit of physical challenge, Janet will continue to inspire perseverance, lifelong learning and generosity for years to come.