Brenton Roberts with a public-land buck—and plaque dedicated to his great-grandparents.
March 18, 2024
By Brenton Roberts
I heard the gentle crunch of marsh grass. He was coming from downwind, and I was sure he would scent me and soon be gone. Nope, he kept his head down and strolled by my stand at 15 yards. An 8-pointer, respectable for this area.
“Deep breaths, Brenton. Focus. Don’t screw this up,” I repeated in my head. The buck made his way out to about 30 yards and stopped, quartering away, picked his head up and that’s when I let the slug gun do its job. He dropped immediately.
It was my first deer taken in Florida, always a special mark. But to me this was extra special. I was hunting public land, in fact a Wildlife Management Area named in honor of my great-grandparents, the late Johnny and Mariana Jones. They were hard-working conservationists and warriors when it came to protecting these and other lands. I could feel their presence on this hunt.
A plumber before taking up conservation work, Johnny knew about the 9 to 5 and how important public land is to the working man. He was one of them. Many of his closest friends he met through local hunt clubs and sportsmen gatherings. Two-term Florida Governor Bob Graham (1979-1987) would refer to Jones as “a bulldog” because he was scrappy, passionate, and determined to get the job done.
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He worked with close friends and legends in conservation like the late Arthur Marshall and Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author of "The Everglades: River of Grass."
Growing up, I was told of my great grandfather: “You knew when Johnny walked into a room of legislators in Tallahassee.” They knew he meant business. I was also told that my great-grandmother and my great-aunt, Diane Jones, were the brains behind the scenes, collaborating with Johnny to draft bills and working with the same drive.
Among their accomplishments was preserving 1.7 million acres through the Save Our Rivers Program; drafting the Kissimmee River Restoration Act; and helping pass the Endangered Lands Act of 1972, which resulted in the acquisition of the 54,000-acre Three Lakes WMA and more than 360,000 acres across the state. They were also instrumental in the acquisition of Big Cypress National Preserve and Joe Budd WMA.
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Johnny was the first full-time executive director of the Florida Wildlife Federation, from 1971 to 1986. In total, they passed 67 bills and facilitated acquisition and establishment of over 3 million acres of public lands. Not too shabby for a man and woman who didn’t even graduate high school.
I only got to spend time with my great grandparents in the pre-adolescent years of my life, but even then I recognized their deep love for each other and for our family. And, it was clear they had space in their hearts for all of Florida; it showed through everything they accomplished.
So, thank you, Grandma, Great-Aunt and Grandpa Jones, for paving the path for me and other Floridians. Thank you for fighting the good fight and saving so much of this great state.
This story was featured in the Outdoor Happening section of the February 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Learn how to subscribe . Send Us Your Story If you have had an interesting, exciting or funny experience in the outdoors, tell us about it and send us a picture: It might qualify as “An Outdoor Happening.” If your story is chosen, you’ll receive a Florida Sportsman gift pack worth over $100. Email your story and one or two photos to editor@floridasportsman.com. Or send your story by mail to Outdoor Happening, Florida Sportsman, 3725 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite 202, Stuart, FL 34996.
