Albert H. Blanding

Albert Hazan Blanding was one of Florida’s most distinguished soldiers and the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. He was one of only two Floridans to attain the rank of General.

General Blanding (November 9, 1876 - December 26, 1970) was born in Lyons, Iowa, but his family moved to Florida when he was two years old. In 1894, Blanding graduated from East Florida Seminary in Gainesville, now the University of Florida. [ [http://30thinfantry.org/blanding_history.shtml 30th Infantry Division in WWII: Camp Blanding-The War Years] ] He was commissioned a Captain in the Florida National Guard (FNG) in 1899.

At the time, he was a phosphate company executive and purchased an 1899 Victorian "gingerbread" home on Northeast Third Street, Gainesville in 1901. [ [http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/historic/historic_commission/historictowns/gainesville/nedis/nehist.htm Historic Preservation of Alachua County (Florida): History of the Northeast Historic District-phosphate industry] ]

Blanding was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1909 and ran a turpentine, sawmill and lumber business from 1910 to 1914 while active on the National Guard roster. He became the ranking FNG officer, commanding the Second Florida Infantry in the Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916-17.

On August 5, 1917, Blanding was called up to serve in the US Army during World War I, where he commanded the 53rd Brigade, 27th Division, as a Brigadier General. After hostilities ceased, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and discharged from the US Army on March 1, 1919.

After his discharge, he resumed his service to the FNG. Blanding served as State of Florida Chairman for the American Legion for a time and was a member of the Florida Board of Control from 1922-1936. The Board was the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida.

He was later appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Chief of the National Guard of the United States from 1936-1940. Camp Blanding, the primary military reservation and training station for the FNG, was named in his honor. He retired in 1940 after 41 years of military service with the rank of "Honorary" Lieutenant General.

The University of Florida awarded him Doctor of Laws in May of 1942. [ [http://www.president.ufl.edu/hddesc.htm University of Florida: Office of the President-Honorary Degree Recipients] ] During World War II he served on the Florida Board of the Selective Service System and was instrumental in the creation of the Everglades National Park.cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/8428/hikeplans/gainesville/plangainesvil.html|title=Gainesville Historical Trail: 35....Blanding House|publisher=Alachua County Historical Commission|accessdate=2008-06-07]

Albert H. Blanding died in 1970. He was designated a Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State in the "Great Floridians 2000 Program". A plaque attesting to the honor is located at Bartow City Hall. [ [http://www.flheritage.com/services/sites/floridians/?section=b Florida Department of State: Great Floridians 2000 Program] ]

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