Jim Horn: Innovator, Statesman, and Advocate for Brice’s Crossroads
Brice’s Crossroads Foundation supporter Jim Horn was born in 1930, in Lincoln, IL. He graduated from Mt. Pulaski High School, and matriculated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Mechanical Engineering (he later was awarded a Distinguished Graduate Award from U of I).
After graduation from college Jim worked at Revere Ware, Clinton, IL, making 90mm shell casings. The Korean War saw Jim drafted into the U.S. Army. He went to basic training at Fort Knox, KY, then transferred to Fort Benning, GA, for OCS, being then promoted to 2 nd lieutenant. He served in Ordinance for one year in Korea.
After the war, Jim worked at Minneapolis-Honeywell in charge of making environmental control switches for aircraft. He then transferred to Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX, where he worked for three years manufacturing guidance systems for CIM-10 Boeing Bomarc missiles. He then moved to California to work for Hoffman Electronics, the pioneer of solar cells.
In 1962 Jim moved to Seattle, WA, and began work with the Boeing Corporation, becoming a corporate-level manager. He was instrumental in the development of the S1C missile for NASA’s Saturn missile project. He then transferred to Cocoa Beach, FL, at the request of Alvin “Tex” Johnson, a test pilot for NASA. Jim continued working through the Saturn/Apolo program for two years, moving back to Seattle in 1968.
While still working for Boeing, Jim was elected to the Mercer Island City Council for eight years. Eventually, the city council elected Jim mayor of Mercer Island. He then ran for the state legislature, serving eight years in the Washington State House. Continuing his political career, Jim was elected to the state senate, serving an additional eight years. After thirty-one years at Boeing, Jim retired in 1993. He now lives in Scottsdale, AZ.
Jim’s interest in Brice’s Crossroads stems from his great uncle, Eli Harbert, who was a corporal in Company I, 114 th Illinois Infantry. He was present at Brice’s Cross Roads, and was captured, along with his buddy Johnnie Mier, near Ripley, MS. They were sent to Andersonville prison, GA. Both survived and returned to Mt. Pulaski, IL.