CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin met Bobby Rashad Jones in 1991 when they were both seventh-graders at the Westminster Schools, a private school in Atlanta. "We soon discovered how much we had in common -- beginning with our parents, who both put a high premium on education," Baldwin says. "Rashad, as he was known in school, would become one of the most inspiring people in my life."
CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin met Bobby Rashad Jones in 1991 when they were both seventh-graders at the Westminster Schools, a private school in Atlanta. "We soon discovered how much we had in common -- beginning with our parents, who both put a high premium on education," Baldwin says. "Rashad, as he was known in school, would become one of the most inspiring people in my life."
Courtesy Brooke Baldwin
"I was captain of the cheerleaders, threw the shot put on the track team and was in the National Honor Society. I was never drawn to any of the traditional high school cliques," Baldwin says. "Neither was Rashad."
"I was captain of the cheerleaders, threw the shot put on the track team and was in the National Honor Society. I was never drawn to any of the traditional high school cliques," Baldwin says. "Neither was Rashad."
Courtesy Brooke Baldwin
Baldwin describes Jones as a Renaissance man. He played in the band, sang in the choral ensemble and excelled in basketball and football. She says his academic interests were equally as broad.
Baldwin describes Jones as a Renaissance man. He played in the band, sang in the choral ensemble and excelled in basketball and football. She says his academic interests were equally as broad.
Courtesy Jones Family
Baldwin says she didn't know it at the time but Jones, a star linebacker, selected No. 42 for his football jersey because it was Jackie Robinson's number in 1947 when he broke Major League Baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Baldwin says she didn't know it at the time but Jones, a star linebacker, selected No. 42 for his football jersey because it was Jackie Robinson's number in 1947 when he broke Major League Baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Westminster yearbook
Jones graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001. He's the first to admit he lost his military bearing when President George W. Bush awarded him the diploma. He even gave Bush a bear hug. Today, Jones, a lieutenant commander, is the executive officer on the USS Anzio, a guided-missile cruiser.
Jones graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2001. He's the first to admit he lost his military bearing when President George W. Bush awarded him the diploma. He even gave Bush a bear hug. Today, Jones, a lieutenant commander, is the executive officer on the USS Anzio, a guided-missile cruiser.
Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images
Over the years, Baldwin says Jones has been a role model like no other. "He, without even probably realizing what he was doing, was teaching me -- and still does -- how to be a better human being. How lucky am I?" she says.
Over the years, Baldwin says Jones has been a role model like no other. "He, without even probably realizing what he was doing, was teaching me -- and still does -- how to be a better human being. How lucky am I?" she says.
CNN