Mallory E. Horne

Mallory E. Horne Our state has truly lost a "Great Floridian", Mallory E. Horne, who passed away on Wednesday, April 30th. Never before in the history of our great state has one individual made such an indelible impression on the very fabric of our governance. Mallory Horne graduated with distinction from Leon High School and immediately upon graduation enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps to fight in World War II. Mallory was rated the top flight school graduate in the nation, and as such, was chosen to attend the first advanced aerial combat training in our country's history. Today that training is known as "Top Gun", and indeed, Mallory Horne was the best of the best in a P51 mustang fighter plane. After the war, Mallory continued to serve in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve, being later honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. At the University of Florida Mallory served as the Chancellor of the Honor Court, and was elected President of the Senior Class. After law school, Mallory was elected President of the Florida Junior Bar. While still in his twenties, Mallory was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. Recognized immediately for his leadership abilities, he experienced a rapid rise to prominence, culminating with his election as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Upon leaving the House of Representatives, Mallory was elected to the Florida Senate, where he again rose to the top upon his election as the chamber's presiding officer. As such, Mallory Horne became the only person since Reconstruction to serve as both Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and President of the Florida Senate. While serving in both bodies, Senator Horne was known for his spell binding orations and willingness to take principled, and sometimes unpopular, positions. While his legislative accomplishments are too voluminous to enumerate, three that are especially prominent are the implementation of fair legislative apportionment, complete executive reorganization of all three branches of government, and his tireless, successful efforts to retain the capital in Tallahassee despite numerous efforts to move our seat of government further south. Senator Horne served on the first Constitutional Advisory Commission, General Counsel to the Florida Department of Agriculture, General Counsel to the Florida Senate, and Chairman of the Public Employees Relations Commission. As Special Counsel to Governor Lawton Chiles, Senator Horne engineered the passage of Florida's landmark tobacco legislation, resulting in a multibillion dollar settlement to fund health care for the state. Senator Horne has enjoyed a distinguished law career, and has argued before virtually every judicial forum, including several arguments before both the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States Supreme Court. Senator Horne is a founder of Maddox Horne Law Firm, and will always be the firm's "Senior Partner". He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; stepson, Don Watson; son, Mallory Horne Jr. and daughter in law Ann; grandchildren, Anna and Meghan Horne; and grandson, Caleb Horne. He was preceded in death by a son, David. The funeral will be at Faith Presbyterian Church at 2:30 p.m. EDT today, May 4th. There will be a reception at Horne Hall, at the Maddox Horne Law Firm, 502 North Adams, immediately following the service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.