Lt. Col. Harry Anton Speaker, U.S. Army (retired), 99, a native of Birmingham and retired to Gulf Shores after living in many locations, died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 at his home in Gulf Shores.
He began his military career as a horse cavalryman in the 1920s. He commanded a troop of cavalry, the Birmingham Sabres, in the Alabama National Guard. During World War II he served as an anti-aircraft battery commander and battalion operations officer in combat in the Pacific.
In the early days of the war, he was the first American officer into Northern Australia and the Torres Straits. During the war, he also served as a battalion commander and a post commander. After retiring from the U.S. Army he worked in land acquisition, retiring as vice president of Coates Field Service Inc.
He was an expert horseman, and excelled in open jumping, polo, steeple chasing and fox hunting. He was president and master of fox hounds of the Branchwater Hunt Club in Birmingham.
He was very active in his community. He was a charter member of St. Andrew By The Sea Church in Gulf Shores, as well as being a charter member of Vestavia Country Club. He served on the Republican Party Executive Committee for Baldwin County, was president of the Gulf Shores Lions Club and commander of the Gulf Shores American Legion Post.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Anton Speaker Sr., and Elizabeth Bates Speaker; his cherished wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Pierce Speaker; sister, Elizabeth Speaker Laney; brother, Vent Bates Speaker; and great-grandchildren, Margaret Scott McCormick and John Robert McCormick.
Survivors include a son, Harry Anton Speaker III (Jamie Burk Speaker); granddaughter, Elizabeth Speaker McCormick (Dr. Johnathon BeauxMcCormick Sr.); grandson, Harry Anton Speaker IV; great-grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth McCormick, Johnathon Beaux McCormick Jr., and Harry Anton Speaker V; many other loving relatives.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 at Pine Rest Memorial Park in Foley.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Andrew By The Sea Church, P.O. Box 2385, Gulf Shores, AL 36547.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
