Aubrey Hornsby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brigadier General Aubrey Hornsby
(BRIEF BIOGRAPHY)
Born in 1895 in Eclectic, Alabama-just a few miles from the site of the post he was to create 45 years later-Brig Gen Hornsby spent his boyhood in farm country in close contact with the soil. Gen Hornsby absorbed an intimate knowledge of Alabama's land, and had made use of that knowledge in several phases of Gunter's development. The young Hornsby graduated from Elmore County High School in 1915; he attended the University of Alabama and Southern University for two years until he volunteered in the Army as a Private in May, 1917. He remained in the service continuously until his involvement with the Alabama legislature in the late 1940’s. Brig Gen Hornsby duties had taken him across both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
Less than six months after his enlistment, he had earned his commission and was appointed as Second Lieutenant, 17 November 1917, in the Field Artillery Reserve. In May, 1918, Second Lieutenant Hornsby graduated as an Aerial Observer and then transferred to the American Expeditionary Force with whom he served in France, England, and Germany for one year. Second Lieutenant Hornsby returned to the United States in 1919, he was subsequently stationed at Mitchell Field, Long Island, until July, 1920. Almost coincidental with his transfer to Kelly Field, Texas, he was promoted in grade to First Lieutenant. Also in 1920, he was awarded a commission in the “Regular Army.”
In 1921 First Lieutenant Hornsby spent most of his time in advance flying studies. Because of his skills as a flyer by 1942 Col Hornsby had flown approximately 6,000 hours in military aircraft without a serious incident. Also in 1921 First Lieutenant Hornsby graduated from both the Air Service Pilots' School, and the Air Service Bombardment School. In 1922 First Lieutenant Hornsby transferred to Langley Field, Virginia, where he participated in the experimental bombing of surrendered German battleships the following year.
Brig Gen Hornsby's succeeding tours of duty, which included the command of Clark Field in the Philippine Islands and the position of post engineering officer at Bolling Field, Washington, had given him extensive experience in aircraft maintenance engineering and navigation flights. All of these qualifications had been put to notable advantage at Gunter Field. It was at Gunter Field that the assembly line system of maintaining planes, whose time-saving efficiency had attracted wide attention, was pioneered. And it is at Gunter, as at other basic schools, that fledgling flyers made their first navigation flights.
The installations at which Brig Gen Hornsby served in gaining this background were as follows: 1922-24: Langley Field, Virginia; 1924-27: Maxwell Field, Alabama; 1927-30: March Field, California; 1930-32: Clark Field, Philippine Islands; 1932-33: Maxwell Field, Alabama; 1933-37: Bolling Field, District of Columbia; 1937-40: Maxwell Field, Alabama; 1940: Gunter Field, Alabama. At Maxwell in 1933 Brig Gen Hornsby was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School. Two years later he and Mrs. Hornsby made a European tour through England, France, Italy, and Germany, gaining much information about the military and civilian develop¬ment of aviation there. During his service up to the time of assuming command of Gunter Field, promotions had raised his rank to that of Lieutenant Colonel (temporary). The rise to Captain was made on 27 January 1930, to Major (temporary), 20 April 1935 to Major, 1 December 1938 and to Lieutenant Colonel (temporary). 11 March 1940. At Gunter his rank was made permanent and was then followed 5 December 1941, by his appointment to Colonel (temporary).
BACKGROUND
In August of 1940 the first military personnel arrived and construction began of what is now Gunter AFB, AL. The hospital was used as a headquarters building and Colonel Aubrey Hornsby was the project officer and later the first commanding officer. Runways were constructed and quarters were built and in November the first class of two hundred arrived. In late 1940 then Montgomery AL, Mayor Bill Gunter died and, on the recommendation of Colonel Aubrey, the flying field was officially named “Gunter Field” in early 1941. By July 1941 construction of the field was largely complete. (LEGACY) By 1950 Brig Gen Aubrey Hornsby had become Alabama State Representative Aubrey Hornsby. Brig Gen Hornsby in his later years would frequently visit the area from his Eclectic, AL residence to confer with Maxwell historians such as Mr. Jerome Ennels.
(SON) Sonny Hornsby?
Born October 8, 1936, Sonny Hornsby received his AB degree from Auburn University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama, School of Law in 1960. From 1960 to 1988, Mr. Hornsby had a private law practice in Tallassee, Alabama. He served as a State Senator for Tallapoosa & Elmore Counties from 1962 to 1966. He served as President of the Elmore County Bar Association, President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, and as Tallassee City Judge from 1972 to 1978. From 1977 to 1978, Mr. Hornsby served as President of the Alabama State Bar. Mr. Hornsby served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1989 to 1995. (Retired) (Grandson) Clay Hornsby? The son of a former Alabama State Supreme Court Chief Justice and a lifelong Alabama resident, Clay Hornsby was born in Montgomery County September 2, 1962. Mr. Hornsby earned his BS degree from the University of Alabama in 1984. While earning his 1988 Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama, he excelled in the Trial Advocacy Program—finishing number two nationwide in courtroom trial skills, the highest finish in the history of the law school at the time.
Mr. Hornsby is an active member of the Alabama State and American Trial Lawyers Associations. He was President of the Fifth Judicial Bar for 2001- 2002. A frequent Continuing Legal Education speaker, Mr. Hornsby has presented in-depth lectures on topics ranging from Bad Faith Litigation and Consumer Fraud to Winning Trial Strategies & Techniques and State Liability. During his legal career, Mr. Hornsby has prepared, tried and settled cases against many of the world’s largest corporations.
He is a member of the “Million Dollar Advocates Forum” which is a group comprised solely of lawyers who have tried and won a case of $1 million or more. He is also a Senior Counsel of the College of Master Advocators and Barristers which honors his skills and experience as a trial lawyer.
Sources: 1. Morris, Haynes & Hornsby: Attorneys at Law, http://www.mhhlaw.net/hornsbys.htm, 5 December 2006 2. Gunter History, AU/HO Office, Pg. 47, (Circa) 1943 3. Gunter Air Force Base, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunter_Air_Force_Base, 5 December 2006
