ROCKPORT — Town officials and family crept up the stairs to the Jones Brothers barber shop in downtown Camden June 7, to deliver a surprise — the hot-off-the-presses 2016 Rockport Town Report — to Roger Jones. That’s because the town has dedicated this year’s report to Jones, and tradition holds that lips remain tightly sealed about who is so honored until the report is on the street.

Jones, who has lived in Rockport all of his life, has family in the area, and who has dedicated much time and energy to the town, took it all in stride. He was not cutting hair, although his brother, Lowell, was trimming the head of a young man sitting in a nearby chair.

Roger watched as the entire Rockport Select Board trooped into the barber shop, as well as his granddaughter, Marina; wife Joanne, and son-in-law, Jim French. Then there were two from the press, as well as a few curious friends, and a few more customers rounding up the rear. It was a full shop.

He grinned, shook the hands of various select board members, and gave an appreciative smile to all who gathered.

Here is what is said about Roger in the Town Report, written by Rockport Executive Secretary Stacey Parra:

“Roger has been a resident of Beech Hill in Rockport all his life.

“A man with a deep knowledge of the history of Rockport and a word of advice to share, Roger served on the board of selectmen, budget committee, parks and recreation committee, and others.

“Roger was always willing to help his town in any way he could. He was instrumental in pursuing the purchase of the Marge Jones Recreational property and extending the water and sewer lines.

“After attending local schools, Roger spent four years in the Coast Guard on the Snohomish, keeping the Penobscot River ice-free for oil transport to Bangor from mid-December to March.

“After leaving the Coast Guard, he went to barber school in 1960, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother. He worked in Rockland for a while and then in 1966, he and his brother, Lowell, joined in a business over Cappy’s Chowder House for 25 years, then over French and Brawn for the past 25 years... and are still going strong.

I remember many hours waiting for my son to get his haircut, with Roger and Lowell talking to me about Rockport politics, remembering my grandfather’s store downtown and the state of the country. My son may have disliked the long wait, but I cherished the banter between the brothers, their clientele, and me. Roger is a die-hard Democrat.... Just kidding, Roger.... He’s a Republican, through and through.

“Roger has as a deep love for his property on Beech Hill, and loved to hunt with his father and now with others around his property and elsewhere. His farm was a favorite location for many to get their annual Christmas tree and of course, some words of advice or wisdom as they were doing so. He donated annually as many Christmas trees as the town needed to make it look festive.

“He and his wife, Joanne Loffman Jones, of Rockville, will celebrate 60 years of marriage this year. They have two children, Roger Jones, Jr., of Florida, and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ French, her husband, James, and daughter, Marina, of Rockport.

“The town is fortunate to have Roger.”