Student Life Health and Wellness General

Respiratory Care grad, 53, never gave up on his educational goal

Andy Newberry
22 December 2025
3 min read

Reginald Jones never guessed when he started college in 1991 at Tyler Junior College that he’d finish in 2025. Or that he would complete those final tasks behind a computer screen.

Life happened as Jones raised a family, going through the normal ups and downs of a parent, and he worked in the medical profession. Jones had heard great things about Midwestern State University’s respiratory care program around 2006, but he wasn’t ready to go back to college. He enrolled in 2022, but disaster struck in Spring 2024 when his daughter was killed. His education had to take a back seat, and family had to come first. Jones said the patience, care, and understanding he received from Jennifer Anderson and others in the MSU Texas program are the main reasons he came back to finish the race.

Jones graduates at the age of 53. He’s fought for decades to get here, but in some ways, he can’t believe his time arrived. It was important to him to make the trip to Wichita Falls and D.L. Ligon Coliseum to celebrate and take in the Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

“I can’t even put it into words,” he said in the days leading up to the ceremony. “I just imagine what it’s going to be like when I’m sitting there and waiting for them to call my name. I really can’t imagine what it’s going to be like; it’s been such a journey getting to this point.”

Jones, who lives in Athens and works in Dallas with the Veterans Administration, finished his courses online in the respiratory care program. He visited campus a few times and noted it’s a “beautiful campus.”

A former boss of his had recommended MSU to him more than 15 years ago. He wasn’t ready then, but remembered her advice, and when his daughter was grown, he restarted his mission to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Reginald Jones and his wife standing — Reginald Jones with his wife, Maria.

Reginald Jones, after graduation, with Dr. Jennifer Anderson from Gunn College — Reginald Jones with Dr. Jennifer Anderson after the Fall 2025 Graduation ceremony at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. (Top feature photo by Logan Spikes/MSU Texas and other photos courtesy of Reginald Jones)

Graduation is not the finish line – Jones does a lot of running as a hobby – as he hopes to use this as a “stepping stone” to get into a cardiovascular perfusion program. He described it as a “perfusionist runs the machine that is a supplemental heart and keeps the body alive during a heart procedure,” he said. It’s a vital and pressure-packed position, but Jones wants that challenge and responsibility.

“It’s an intense occupation and very specialized field; my first interaction with a perfusionist was in Tyler at the hospital; I was probably 20 years old,” Jones said. “I compare it to running and having to dig deep to get the best out of yourself. That’s been the story of my life, digging deep and keeping on going.”

When Jones needed help to keep going, he found it with the respiratory care program that he’d heard so many good things about 17 years earlier. When tragedy struck his family and he had to pause his online classes, he said Jennifer Anderson and the MSU faculty and administration were there in his time of need.

“Dr. Anderson was so helpful when I had the loss of my daughter; very understanding and trying to help me take that break,” Jones said. “I was registered for the spring semester. She was very compassionate, and all of their instructors were very good and helpful.”

Jones grew up with asthma and had to visit the ER when he was young. He believes that inspired his interest in respiratory care and his 30-year career. He realized a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care was quite valuable, but life threw him some obstacles.

“I’m very thankful, and it was challenging,” Jones said.

Jones is ready for the next challenge with a hard-earned degree finally in hand.