Santa Clara Magazine

After reading a story in the paper recently, Brent Jones '85 decided to buy a dog. A brown Lab by the name of Button. But not for himself. 

The dog was for 9-year-old Louis Navin, whose family lives in San Jose.

Louis suffers from epilepsy, and he needed a specially-trained dog to protect him during seizures. The cost: $10,000.

On the gridiron for SCU, Jones helped revolutionize the concept of the pass-catching tight end.

He went on to don No. 84 for the San Francisco '49ers and played an illustrious career.

In his ring collection: four Pro Bowl and three Super Bowl beauties. Plus membership in the College Football Hall of Fame.

He retired from football in 1998 -- and that year the NFL named him Good Samaritan of the Year. He now co-owns Northgate Capital, an investment company.

The San Jose Mercury News ran a story about Louis and his family's hopes to buy the dog. When Jones saw the story about young Louis in the paper, he showed the story to his wife, Dana Jones '86.

Then the Joneses got out their checkbook and bought Louis a dog.

It's a wonderful story and one we like to share.

And give credit where due: Read Lisa Fernandez' article in the Merc here.

--Steven Boyd Saum

Editor