(1938 or 39– )

Clyde Jones

Clyde Jones is recognized for his wooden creations better known as "critters." His home in Bynum, NC, which is decorated with paintings of sea creatures and large penguins, bears a large yellow sign outside that reads, "Critter Crossing." Formerly a mill worker, Jones has been creating his critters since 1982 and uses a chainsaw to mold stumps and log remnants. His fondness for both animals and the environment are represented through his work.

In 1982, Jones began his association with the Haw River Assembly, an organization formed in order to restore and prevent further pollution of the Haw River, located near his home. As a result, Jones plays a large role in the annual Haw River Festival, which was created to educate both the public and schoolchildren of the escalating damage to the river and nearby watershed. He consistently donates his time and work for silent auctions or charities to aid the cause. Jones' work has been taken all over the world, including the Great Wall of China. He doesn't sell his work, and prefers to give it away. He frequently visits schools and has said, "Parents need to leave kids be to make whatever they want to make, however they want to make it. They know what they're doing."

Some years ago, Jones lost his longtime companion, his beloved dog Speck. He has laid Speck to rest in his yard, among all his other critters and continues to create more art pieces for the service and pleasure of others. Currently, the highway alongside the Haw River, leading from North Carolina's Research Triangle down past Bynum is being widened to accommodate Jones' creations, which are now commonly referred to as the "Haw Creek Critters."

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