Humphries, Homer H., 1930-

Lawyer and Jacksonville, Fla., politician. Born in Jacksonville on Jan. 15, 1930, and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Stetson University in 1961. He served as Assistant Duval County Solicitor (1963-1965) and Assistant State Attorney for Duval County (1965-1967) and in 1967 was elected from Ward 8 to the Jacksonville City Council. He served throughout the Jacksonville city consolidation period and became Council President on July 1, 1970. He left the City Council in 1971 and was appointed to the Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority, serving as its chairman for the next eight years. He also served on the Florida Fourth Judicial Nominating Commission and had affiliations with several Jacksonville civic organizations. He was an early advocate for the University of North Florida and was appointed to the first UNF Foundation Board of Trustees, serving as Board President in 1976-77.

From the description of Homer H. Humphries, Jr. papers 1967-2008. (bulk 1967-1971). (University of North Florida, Carpenter Library). WorldCat record id: 264791255

Homer Hudson Humphries, Jr., was born in Jacksonville, Florida on January 15, 1930, and attended local schools. After graduation from the Bolles School, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958 from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Stetson University in 1961. His early legal work included positions as the Assistant Duval County Solicitor (1963-1965), and Assistant State Attorney for Duval County (1965-1967). In June 1967, he was elected from Ward 8 to the Jacksonville City Council (prior to Consolidation), and under the new consolidated government, won election to the City Council from District 13. He became Council President on July 1, 1970, the third and the last President of consolidated government's first City Council. In 1971, he did not seek re-election to the Council, and returned to private law practice in Jacksonville.

Humphries has been active in a number of civic, fraternal, professional, and religious organizations. A month after Humphries left the Council in 1971, Mayor Hans Tanzler appointed him to the first Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and he served the next eight years as DDA Chairman. In 1989, he was appointed to the Fourth Judicial Nominating Commission by Florida Governor Bob Martinez, and served a four-year term until 1992. Other civic activities included service affiliations with the Florida League of Cities, Florida Community College, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Children's Museum, and St. Luke's Hospital.

His involvement with the University of North Florida deserves special mention. In 1969, as a member of the Jacksonville City Council, he was a strong supporter of the present suburban location for the University versus an urban site as proposed by other Council members. He was appointed to the first University of North Florida Foundation Board of Trustees, and was elected Foundation Board President in 1976-77. For his extensive service to the University, he was awarded a UNF Presidential medallion in October 2008.

He had a long and distinguished service in the U.S. military. In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and entered the Cadet Aviation Program. He served in the U.S. and overseas as a squadron pilot until his release from active duty in 1958 to pursue his civilian education. Subsequently, he joined the Florida Air National Guard, serving in several capacities where he held leadership positions: Air Operations Officer for State Headquarters (1972); Lieutenant Colonel and Director of Operations (1976-77); Chief of Staff and promotion to Colonel (1980); and promotion to Brigadier General in 1984. He retired from the Guard in 1989, and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal for his 36 years of outstanding military service.

From the guide to the Homer H. Humphries, Jr. Papers, 1967-2008, 1967-1971, (Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida)