House Honors Mallory Horne

The House honored Mallory Horne today. Horne, the only man to serve as Senate President and House Speaker since Reconstruction, passed away last April of lung cancer. Horne was a key leader in keeping Tallahassee as the state capital. Horne ran for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1974 in an 11 candidate field but placed behind Bill Gunter and eventual winner of the run-off Richard Stone.

Horne faced legal troubles in the 1980s, including charges of money laundering and accusations of drug smuggling. He was acquitted of all charges though the legal issues severely damaged his financial well being. Horne would have a renaissance of sorts in the 1990s, serving as an adviser and legal counselor to his old friend Gov. Lawton Chiles.