Milton W. Jones, Publisher of Palm Springs Life, Passes Away

Milton W. Jones, beloved publisher of Palm Springs Life, owner of Desert Publications Inc., and president of the Jones Agency, died on Wednesday, May 21, in his home in Palm Springs. He was 84.

Jones moved to Palm Springs from Newport Beach in 1957 to open Center Pharmacy in Cathedral City, where he would morph from pharmacist to publishing mogul.

Jones launched the Taylor/Jones Agency in 1959 with partner Bud Taylor. In 1965, Jones became president of Palm Springs Life, merging the magazine and the agency into the overarching corporation Desert Publications Inc. In 1967, Jones started publishing Desert Guide, the Coachella Valley’s first visitor publication.

Franklin W. Jones, associate publisher of Desert Publications, noted that business will move forward as usual. “The Jones Agency will continue to be run under the outstanding leadership of Kyle Radke, and I will continue to oversee Desert Publications Inc.,” he said.

A public memorial service is being arranged, with details to follow.