Through the political influence of U.S. Senator Claude Pepper and Florida Governor Spessard Holland, Tallahassees Dale Mabry Field became an U.S. Army base on January 24, 1941. Local officials named the new field in honor of Tallahassee native, Army Captain Dale Mabry, son of former Florida Supreme Court Justice Milton H. Mabry. More to read here: http://www.flheritage.com/wwii/sites.cfm?PR_ID=151