William "Billy" Henry Hudgins: Naval Commander and Legacy Builder
Born in Chase City, Virginia, on November 19, 1915, William "Billy" Henry Hudgins was the younger son of Edward Wren Hudgins and Lucy Morton Hudgins. He attended Chase City High School before transferring on to the prestigious Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Billy earned his Bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and later pursued law at the University of Virginia, where he received both his LL.B. in 19[??] and Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1941.
Naval Career and Service
Billy enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 8, 1940, and served with distinction from June 12, 1941, to July 17, 1946. His notable assignments included:
- Serving at the District Intelligence Office in Norfolk.
- Commanding Officer of the Patrol Yacht USS Carnelian, part of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit.
- Service aboard the USS YDG-11 and the USS George P. Elliott, where he served as Commanding Officer and Assistant Troop Commander, respectively.
Billy returned to active duty on December 17, 1947, serving in the Office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington, DC. His career highlights include:
- Being detailed to additional duty as an Aide at the White House under President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1950.
- Acting as Senior Aide to Admiral Robert B. Carney, Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe (1951-1953). This role took Billy to London, Naples, the Middle East, the Far East, and South America.
Billy resigned from the Navy on November 26, 1953, after an esteemed career. In 2008, a letter from the Department of the Navy to Congressman Virgil H. Goode Jr. recognized Billy’s service, stating that he “carried out all his assignments in a way to reflect credit on the naval service.”
World Travels and Cruise Director Career
In 1958, Billy became a Senior Cruise Director with Matson Lines in San Francisco, logging over two million miles of travel. His extensive travels fueled his passion for art and historical artifacts, many of which he later incorporated into MacCallum More Gardens.
Dedication to MacCallum More Gardens
With memories of the great estates of Europe that he had seen in his travels, Billy came home and started developing the MacCallum More Gardens that we know today. He enriched the gardens with artifacts collected from his global travels, including:
- A Meiji-period bronze Samurai Warrior
- A bronze putto with dolphin (cherub-like statue), a replica of the original by Verrocchio
- A 16th-century wellhead from Ischia Island in the Bay of Naples
- A Lion fountain, a replica of the one that stands in the Court of the Lions in Alhambra
- A carved Roman cloister
- Cobblestones from Richmond
- Bricks from the streets of Chase City
Charles Duckworth, a friend and former mayor, recalled that “Billy loved the Gardens and loved Chase City. When he retired from the Navy, he came back home and developed the Gardens as a memorial to his mother.” Duckworth also described Billy as a “packrat”, preserving valuable artifacts and documents that contributed to the unique charm of MacCallum More Museum & Gardens.
The Anchors Aweigh Column was dedicated in his honor as a tribute to his naval service.
Community Leadership and Recognition
Billy was a pillar of the Chase City community, serving as President of the Chase City Chamber of Commerce and spearheading local initiatives. His contributions were officially recognized on September 9, 1984, when Governor Charles S. Robb presented him with the Chase City Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award for his civic and cultural work.
Legacy and Memory
Commander William Henry Hudgins passed away in 1986, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of service, exploration, and cultural enrichment. His contributions to Chase City and MacCallum More Gardens continue to inspire visitors, ensuring that his family’s dedication to history and community endures for generations to come.
Explore More
Learn more about Billy Hudgins and the history of MacCallum More Gardens. Plan Your Visit →
Visit Our History Page →