Audience members said they felt Jones was an appropriate speaker for Class Day because he could relate to both students and their parents.
"His speech was beautiful," said Joan E. Pugh, mother of Benjamin G. Steinberg '97. "It moved me to tears. Both his message to parents as a father and to students made his message a universal one."
Others also cited the moving nature of his remarks.
"It was a nice speech because he was so sincere," said Lisa M. Grant '97. "He had a lot of good things to say. I don't know what a Class Day speaker is supposed to do or say, but he certainly fulfilled what I feel is the purpose of Class Day. He was inspirational."
David E. Mann '97 said that Jones' personal example helped make the oration particularly significant.
"He has succeeded in really touching people with his life," Mann said. "If we can do things the same way, then we can say that we have achieved the same success that he has."