Alphonse T. Hussey

Pops

Alphonse was know as AT to friends and aquantances and as Pops to his family. Born and raised in Savannah, he attended Benedictine College (Prep.).

Between 1905 and mid-1906, he was a clerk and stenographer first for Herman Coal & Wood and then for Sunderhiemer & Co.. Then in 1908 he began work in what would be his life long profession, Naval Stores (turpentine & pine rosin). He learned the naval stores business working for Atlanta Turpentine Co. between 1908 and 1913. In 1914 he and his close friend Bob O'Connor ventured out on their own in the Naval Stores business and formed Hussey & O'Connor. Their business enjoyed limited success and in 1917 Hussey & O'Connor ceased operations. AT joined the Rosin & Turpentine Export Company in Savannah, but World War I had already begun in Europe.

AT was one of the original Savannah Volunteer Guards, joining Company C, Savannah Volunteer Guards, Coast Artillery, National Guard of Georgia in 1906. He rose from the rank of Private to First Lieutenant. The United States entered World War I in April, 1917 and Lieutenant AT Hussey was called to active duty in August 5, 1917. He was detailed as the Post Adjutant for Fort Scriven, Georgia where he served for the duration of the war. He was promoted to Captain June 26, 1918 and Major November 8, 1918 before being discharged from active duty on January 14, 1919. He remained in the U.S. Army Officers Reserve Corp and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 9, 1922. He retired with benefits on 30 June 1953 after some 46 years of service.

After the war, he returned to work for the Rosin & Turpentine Export Company with a new assignment as Manager of their Pensacola, Florida plant. Here he and his family remained until May 1, 1922 when he was promoted and sent to company headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. AT was a rising star at the Rosin & Turpentine Export Company and on May 1, 1927 he was made Secretary for the company and just two months later was named General Manager. However in September of that year, with the tragic death of his second wife, he decided to return to his home. He moved to Savannah in October of 1928 where he joined the Columbia Naval Stores Company and became a Corporate Officer. He was President of the Gum Processors Association for many years.

In addition to the organizations mentioned above, he was a member of The Hibernian Society, the Oglethorpe Club, the American Legion, the Military Order of World Wars and the Elks Club.