Dick Jones likes to share a favorite quote from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel: “God created mankind because he loves stories.” Now, after fifty years of life in the Wet Mountain Valley, Dick has gathered his own stories into a long-awaited book—Walking the Same Ground: Reflections of Community was published in December 2024.
Sure, life in the valley has changed over the decades, but Dick’s reflections on friendships, memories, and local lore remain timeless. His words bring smiles, spark nostalgia, and inspire appreciation for the place he’s called home for half a century.
In announcing the book’s release, the Wet Mountain Tribune shared this excerpt from the collection’s final pages:
“I have never seen the Pacific Ocean, the coastline of Texas, or the vastness of Alaska… However, I have walked the same ground of Custer County for half a century. I have tasted the icy water of mountain streams, been chilled by a sudden gust of wind at timberline, smelled the freshness of a spruce forest after a summer shower, and waded waist-deep snow to get to a high country lake in order to catch fish that I would eat before going home. I have slept in an aspen grove, listened to the bugle of elk during the rut, and observed the mating rituals of bighorn sheep.”
A gifted storyteller, Dick has long delighted audiences at WMV Community Storytelling events, held throughout the year at Westcliffe Community United Methodist Church (CUMC). You can catch a sampling of his tales in this video from March 2024.
Here is what Dick has to say about community in another excerpt from Walking the Same Ground:
Community does not often happen by aiming at it directly. It is forged out of the daily encounters and the relational nuances of life lived together. Usually, it simply overtakes us as we walk the same ground…together. And there are no short cuts!
The book’s cover features an enchanting illustration by renowned local artist Andy Mast. Some may recognize Dick himself as one of Andy’s favorite subjects—featured in a mural on the corner of Main and Third Street in downtown Westcliffe. Andy will be hosting a book signing with Dick on March 22 from 10-2 pm at his gallery at 219 Main Street.
Dick’s new book is now available for purchase on Amazon.com in both soft and hardcover versions. Dick will also be at Beckwith Ranch on April 11 to talk with folks about the book. And if you see him around town, he just might sign a copy for you!
