Love A. Mallory, Jr.

Love A. Mallory, Jr. Marine Bomber Pilot State Legislator Love Alvah Mallory, Jr., was born September 21, 1917, in the Crest Community of western Upson County. He attended R.E. Lee Institute in Thomaston, Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, and the University of Georgia where he received a B.S. degree in Commerce in the class of 1938. After his graduation from college, he served as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Thomaston Production Credit Association until he volunteered for military service in World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy as an aviation cadet and received his wings as a Marine Aviator and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the South Pacific War as a dive-bomber pilot where he completed 46 combat missions in the Solomon Islands, New Britain, and New Ireland. He was the second Allied pilot to land at Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island while the Japanese enemy was still trying to defend the airfield. He was promoted to the rank of Captain and was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with three battle stars, and his unit received a Presidential Citation. At the end of the war he was awarded the Victory Medal. Mr. Mallory was always modest about his service as a Marine pilot in World War II and rarely discussed his accomplishments. However, in 2009 he was interviewed by Georgia Public Broadcasting for inclusion in its “World War II Oral History Project,” which featured veterans and their remembrances of the war. Returning to civilian life, Mr. Mallory worked for the Sate Department of Veterans Services and was associated with his family peach farming operation. In 1950 Mr. Mallory was elected to the Georgia State Senate where he served two terms and later served in the House of Representatives. In 1951 Mr. Mallory organized Mallory Implement Company, a John Deere farm machinery dealership, and many years later he was engaged in the real estate business as a broker under the name Mallory Realty Company. Mr. Mallory was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston, Jaycees, Kiwanis, Veterans of Foreign War, and the American Legion. He was a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. Mr. Mallory served his community as a member of the Thomaston Board of Education and the Upson County Hospital Authority, serving as chairman of both. With all of his accolades, Mr. Mallory would tell anyone that his proudest accomplishment was his family. Survivors include Martha Thomason Mallory, his wife of 64 years; sons and daughters-in-law Truitt and Julie Mallory and John and Mary Mallory of Thomaston; son and daughter-in-law Bill and Rose Mallory of Watkinsville; daughter and son-in-law Nell and Kirk Boggs of Douglasville; eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.