ATLANTA — Atlanta radio great Rhubarb Jones has died. According to a statement from Gradick Communications, a company Jones worked for, Jones died following a heart attack in Haralson County Sunday afternoon. Jones was 65.

On Jones’ death, Gradick Communications President Steve Gradick in a statement on their website: "He was true southern gentleman who loved and adored his children and was proud of and loved being a part of the Tallapoosa community," Gradick said Sunday. "He will be sorely and deeply missed. Gradick Communications is fortunate to have had him on our airwaves these last couple of years."

Jones was a legendary voice in Atlanta radio for more than two decades, with notable time spent as the voice at country station Y106 in the 1980’s, until 2008.

He was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in 2007. Its president and co-founder, John Long, tells WSB “It’s shocking and crushing news, because Rhubarb was one of the most lovable people you’d ever meet in your entire life. “I’m sure that the members of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame join me in sending our love and thoughts to his daughters who loved him so much, and all of his family. Rhubarb will be missed by all of us.”

Jones was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame a few years before his Georgia honor, in 2001.

Karen Emory, widow of WSB’s Captain Herb, was friends with Jones for more than 25 years. “He was a rock star of country music…and Atlanta icon. She says Jones “was always that strong big booming voice, laughing, joking, just a wonderful person.”

Jones’ charity work was well known, including his celebrity golf tournament for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and his annual March Across Georgia for the LLS.

Jones for several recent years had been teaching at Kennesaw State University as a media instructor, then as a development officer for the school.