Clifton Jones Receives Norma Kolbe Award

Omaha Field Office Director Clifton Jones has been selected this year for the Norma Kolbe Award for exemplary service and outstanding leadership of a government employee in the Omaha Area. The Norma Kolbe Award is an award that exemplifies the outstanding leadership and accomplishments of an individual within the Omaha community.

Prior to her passing, Norma Kolbe was an individual who, not only served the Omaha community, but also served her country through her many years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, she was a committed and devoted member of several local and national organizations including the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) in Omaha. In that time, Ms. Kolbe provided leadership and guidance on numerous Combined Federal Campaigns. Her love for her country and for the Combined Federal Campaign lives on in the award named for her.

Mr. Jones was the 2009 recipient of this award because he exemplifies the very spirit and character of what the award entails. As Director for the Omaha HUD Field Office, he embraces the meaning of dedication whether it pertains to his work, his family, his community or to the notion of "giving back" to his community and his state. Presently, Jones is the president of the Lincoln/Omaha Federal Executives Association (FEA), and recently served as chair of the Local Federal Coordinating Campaign (LFCC). In his role as Omaha Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Clif administers HUD programs statewide, overseeing approximately $500 million in federal HUD funds each year.

Through these organizations, Clif has devoted his time to lifting other people up, giving them opportunities for a better life. For example, with "Blacks in Government," he promotes scholarships for applicants based on their need and their level of community service. He works tirelessly to ensure that kids, who do not have personal computers at home, get them.

A native of New Bern, North Carolina, Clif arrived in Omaha in 1968 and joined the U.S. Air Force later that year, serving four years as a photographer. Over the past 10 years, he has volunteered for "Rebuilding Together," also known as "Christmas in April," as well as the Regional Chapter President of the "Blacks in Government" organization.