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Services for Retired U.S. Army Colonel Buford “Pete” Brooks, 91, of Jacksonville, Alabama, will be announced at a later date. Mr. Brooks passed away at home on February 7, 2024, following a brief illness.
Pete was born in Elba in Coffee County on September 19, 1932. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Willie Brooks and Ruth Hawkins Brooks. Pete graduated from Kinston High School in 1950. He then attended Jacksonville State College where he played basketball and graduated in 1954 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration/Economics. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the JSC ROTC program.
Pete had a 30 year career in the Alabama National Guard / U.S. Army. His overseas assignments included Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Germany and multiple state side assignments including the Pentagon. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was also chosen as the JSU Military Alumnus of the Year in 1979. He was accompanied throughout his military career by his wife, Carolyn Dobson Brooks, whom he wed on June 21, 1958.
After retirement from the U.S. Army, Pete and Carolyn settled in Anniston. Pete began a second career as the Jacksonville State University Director of Alumni Affairs, serving for 12 years. In 1994 they moved to Jacksonville to renovate a home built in 1843. They were active at the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville and in the Retired Military Officer’s Association. Pete had a regular golf group he played with for over twenty years. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, five brothers, and his wife of 63 years, Carolyn. He will be missed by his children, Jonathan Brooks (Katie) of Stratford, CT, and Leslie Best (Robert) of Arlington, VA; grandchildren, Cayleigh and Kara Brooks of Connecticut, and Jonathan Best and Caroline Best of Virginia; brother, Rex Brooks and sister Annette Roller.
Services for Retired U.S. Army Colonel Buford “Pete” Brooks, 91, of Jacksonville, Alabama, will be announced at a later date. Mr. Brooks passed away at home on February 7, 2024, following a brief illness.Pete was born in Elba in Coffee County on September 19, 1932. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Willie Brooks and Ruth Hawkins Brooks. Pete graduated from Kinston High School in 1950. He then attended Jacksonville State College where he played basketball and graduated in 1954 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration/Economics. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the JSC ROTC program.
Pete had a 30 year career in the Alabama National Guard / U.S. Army. His overseas assignments included Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Germany and multiple state side assignments including the Pentagon. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was also chosen as the JSU Military Alumnus of the Year in 1979. He was accompanied throughout his military career by his wife, Carolyn Dobson Brooks, whom he wed on June 21, 1958.
After retirement from the U.S. Army, Pete and Carolyn settled in Anniston. Pete began a second career as the Jacksonville State University Director of Alumni Affairs, serving for 12 years. In 1994 they moved to Jacksonville to renovate a home built in 1843. They were active at the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville and in the Retired Military Officer’s Association. Pete had a regular golf group he played with for over twenty years. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, five brothers, and his wife of 63 years, Carolyn. He will be missed by his children, Jonathan Brooks (Katie) of Stratford, CT, and Leslie Best (Robert) of Arlington, VA; grandchildren, Cayleigh and Kara Brooks of Connecticut, and Jonathan Best and Caroline Best of Virginia; brother, Rex Brooks and sister Annette Roller.
