In Memoriam: Clarence Hood Hornsby

Clarence Hood Hornsby Jr., a long term member and former president of TAPPI, and a very active supporter of the Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation, passed away on March 28, 2015, in Rock Hill, N.C. Clarence provided confident leadership to the Foundation in a time when the pulp and paper industry in Alabama was under rapid change, and that leadership prepared the Foundation for its current day successes.

Due to struggles with cancer, and because of his advancing age, his smiling face and cheerful voice have not been seen and heard at APPF meetings for several years.  But it is certain that his influence will be felt for many years to come.

Born in Dothan, Ala., in 1926, Clarence was the first child of Clarence H. Hornsby Sr. and Naomi King Hornsby. During WWII he left high school to work in a shipyard in Panama City, Fla. At 18 he entered the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Torrance. After the war, he entered what is now Auburn University, where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity and Air ROTC. After earning his degree in mechanical engineering, he began his career with International Paper Co., but was called for service in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

 

Later, Clarence returned to work for IP in Mobile, Ala. He was transferred to Arkansas, where he met and married Bettye Lynn Mann. In 1961 his career brought him to Rock Hill with Bowater Carolina Co. Clarence retired in 1991 as president of Bowater Carolina Division.

 

He was active in the TAPPI, serving as president in 1989-90. While employed at Bowater, he attended and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in the fall of 1976. After retiring, he taught in the Executive MBA program at Winthrop University for some years. Clarence also served many years on the board of York Technical College and later on the State Commission for Technical Education. At various times, he also served on the Rock Hill Economic Development Corp. board, the Auburn Engineering Council, and was active in the founding of the Children's Attention Home. Most recently, he served on the boards of Clinton College and Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine. 

Clarence was a member of St John's United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. He is survived by wife Lynn; son John and daughter-in-law Melanie, both of Rock Hill; daughter Jane Hornsby of Greensboro; and granddaughter Sarah Hornsby Coombs of Mt. Pleasant and her husband Spencer. He is also survived by his sister Martha Hornsby Brennan of Charlotte. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Bettie Hornsby Teague, brother William P. Hornsby, and by many good friends.