Robert S. Hornsby, Sr., 1920-1998
Robert S. Hornsby, Sr. began the Hornsby real estate tradition in 1952 with the development of Middletown Farms, the first post-war housing community in Williamsburg. He went on to become one of the most popular real estate developers in southeast Virginia because his subdivision design and construction choices were made to consistently benefit his homeowners and the greater community at large. At Hornsby Real Estate Co., we are inspired daily by his example, and strive to do our business the way Robert would have it done.
Robert and Bobby Hornsby at the Williamsburg Business Center
Obituary of Robert S. Hornsby, Sr.
HORNSBY FAMILY PATRIARCH DIES
Robert Hornsby Sr. leaves legacy as hard worker, community leader
By Robbie Steele
Robert Stanley Hornsby Sr., 78, of Williamsburg, the patriarch of
a prominent Williamsburg family, a retired oil company executive,
a leader in real estate development in Williamsburg, and a member
of City Council during 1968-76, died Dec. 17, 1998.
Robert C. Walker, former mayor who served with Mr. Hornsby on
council, said, "He was one of the old Williamsburg group who
welcomed me when I came here in 1954. He was a developer of
communities, and he had vision and good taste. The communities he
developed were well-done and very attractive, and he worked at
making them attractive before local laws and regulations were in
force.
"He was very kind and did good things for those who were
less fortunate. He was friendly and jovial when the occasion
required, and in business, he was forthright, practical, and made
suggestions that hadn't been thought of by anyone else.
Williamsburg has lost a great leader."
Mr. Hornsby graduated from the College of William & Mary in
1941 and received his juris doctorate in 1949. He served during
1979-83 on the Board of Visitors at the college and was a former
president of the Alumni Society and the Alumni Interfraternity
Council.
Dr. Thomas Graves, former W&M president, said, "Bob and
Lois Hornsby were the first family we met when we came to
Williamsburg in 1971. I've never known a man more devoted to his
community and the College of William and Mary than Bob Hornsby.
"During his years on the Board of Visitors, he provided
thoughtful, careful, and enormously supportive leadership to both
the college and to me," Graves continued. "Williamsburg
is going to miss Bob. My wife, Zoe, and I remember him with great
affection and deep respect."
In 1970, Mr. Hornsby was awarded the Alumni Medallion of the
Society of the Alumni of the College of William & Mary, for
"service and loyalty."
James Kelly, assistant to the president, said, "Bob Hornsby
was a kind and thoughtful individual who possessed the ability to
make everyone feel important. He worked hard for his community
and successfully filled many leadership roles at the college. Bob
was ambitious for this community, and his vision was always an
inspiration to those who worked with him."
After receiving his law degree, Mr. Hornsby decided to go into
business with his father, in the management of the Hornsby Oil
Co. Robert Hornsby subsequently became president of Hornsby Oil
in 1952 and then branched into real estate development.
Mr. Hornsby was the developer of Middletown Farms, Kingswood and
Windsor Forest subdivisions and served as president of Heritage
Development Co., Heritage Realty Co. and Middle Plantation
Holding Co. He was president of Charter L.L.C., the developer of
Westmoreland subdivision, and vice president of Hornsby Real
Estate Co.
Larry McCardle, a friend and colleague, said, "The highest
compliment anyone could ever pay me would be to say that I did
business the way Bob Hornsby did. He welcomed me into the real
estate business and was always happy to offer advice or assist
with a problem.
"He was a great inspiration to me," added McCardle,
"and I tried to conduct my business as Bob conducted his. He
was a man of honesty, integrity and of solid moral fiber. He'll
be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Mr. Hornsby was a past president and member of the board of
directors of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, a member of the
board of directors and Advisory Committee of the Virginia
Peninsula Economic Development Council, and past president of the
Virginia Petroleum Jobbers Association. He was also a member of
the board of directors of Crestar Bank, the Williamsburg Chamber
of Commerce, and the Rotary Club.
"He was very conscientious, very honest, and attempted to do
a good job for the citizens of Williamsburg," said Frank
Force, former Williamsburg city manager and a fellow Rotarian.
"His father J.W. Hornsby became a charter member of the
Rotary Club in 1924, Bob was on the Rotary, and now his son Bobby
is also - three generations of Rotarians."
Mr. Hornsby was a founding member of the Board of Trustees at
Williamsburg Community Hospital, past president of
Williamsburg-James City United Way, co-chairman of the
Williamsburg Recreation Association Fund Drive, and past
president of the Golden Horseshoe Club.
"I've known Bob for 40-some years," said Phil
Richardson, a friend and business associate. "We owned
property together at different times, and he was just a wonderful
person. He was always upbeat, always humorous, and he was a
leader in the community."
J. W. Hornsby, Robert's father, was a waterman who had gotten
into the fuel oil distributorship business and thus built the
family's wealth. Regardless, J. W. and his wife, Georgie,
instilled in their children a belief in hard work, religion, the
importance of investing wisely, and the need for brotherly love.
In 1991 the Williamsburg Area Chamber of Commerce honored the
Hornsby family for its efforts on behalf of area business,
industry, education and community pursuits. In a Gazette article
about the tribute, Robert Hornsby remarked that his father had
"... passed on his belief in helping not only our immediate
family but the family of man, as well."
Robert Hornsby was born in Seaford and grew up in a family that
had two favorite pastimes: sports and music. The family enjoyed
all kinds of sports - fishing, boating, hunting, baseball, golf -
and played musical instruments and sang. The Hornsbys often spent
hours harmonizing around the dining room table after supper.
New Year's Eve 1935 was a memorable evening for the family.
Robert and his brothers, Sherwood and Charles, performed as
"Sherwood Hornsby and his Rhythm Boys" at Topping's
Court, Williamsburg's first motel. Robert played sax, Sherwood
was on the piano, and Charles played the clarinet. Robert Hornsby
was just 14.
He continued his love of music throughout his years at W&M,
playing in the college orchestra and in a dance band. Howard
Smith, a longtime friend, recalled, "We played in the same
dance band at the college. We had a 14-piece band, and he played
the saxophone. He was a tremendous friend."
Mr. Hornsby also continued his interest in sports, playing on the
W&M football and golf teams and serving as captain of the
golf team in 1941. In 1980, he was selected to the W&M Sports
Hall of Fame.
Mr. Hornsby's education was interrupted during World War II. He
served as a Navy lieutenant on heavy cruisers in the Atlantic and
Pacific theaters and also served a stint as head of the
Navigation Department, University of Illinois ROTC. After the
war, he returned to his studies at W&M and there met Lois
Saunier, a native of Richmond at a Homecoming dance. The couple
was married in 1948 and settled in Williamsburg.
Earl Levitt, a former neighbor, chuckled, "I used to listen
to his children rehearse their music. The walls would go in and
out on Saturday and Sunday afternoons." He added, "Bob
was always quite pleasant and easy to get along with."
Mr. Hornsby is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois Saunier
Hornsby; three sons, Robert Saunier Hornsby and his wife, Ann, of
Williamsburg, Bruce Randall Hornsby and his wife, Kathy, of
Williamsburg, and Jonathan Bigelow Hornsby and his wife Paige, of
Charlottesville; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers or other considerations, memorial
contributions may be made to the Williamsburg Land Conservancy,
PO Box 2000, Williamsburg, 23187.
Reprinted from the Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Virginia,
December 19, 1998
Hornsby Real
Estate Co.
4732 Longhill Road,
Suite 1101
P.O. Box 421
Williamsburg, Va. 23187
Phone: (757) 565-0100
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