Ernest C. "Buddy" Aulls, Jr.'s Obituary
The Honorable Ernest C. "Buddy" Aulls, Jr., 75, passed away August 25. Judge Buddy was born in Orlando, Florida, in 1934, to Captain Ernest C. Aulls, USN, and Christine M. Aulls. Captain Aulls was a career Navy physician; as a result, young Buddy lived all over the United States as well as in Panama and Japan. He attended no fewer than 14 different schools before graduating from high school in Winchester, MA. He followed in his father's footsteps and enrolled at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. However much Captain Aulls would have preferred his son to pursue a career in medicine, Buddy decided the allure of the law was too great to resist. (Possibly as a result of a bad grade in organic chemistry.) He went on to get both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate from Emory. He was admitted to the practice of law in both Georgia and Florida, in 1958, but returned to his roots, in Lake County, as a proud native Floridian. In Eustis he was a founding partner of the firm Huebsch and Aulls. Judge Buddy started his service on the Bench in 1960, where he served at various times as municipal judge for the communities of Eustis, Tavares and Umatilla, while also presiding as small claims judge for Lake County. He was seen on so many court dockets in so many places in Lake County that he earned the nickname "Two Judge Aulls." Later he presided over the County Court of Lake County, before moving to the Circuit Court where he executed his duties as Circuit Judge until his retirement from the bench in 1991 after 31 years. It was always his great honor to have been elected by his fellow jurists as Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit, a position he held for eight years. After his esteemed career as a judge, he transitioned to continue his service to the community as a mediator, a service he performed until his formal retirement in January of 2009, capping over 50 years in the legal field. In addition to his lifelong service to all the citizens of Lake County, he proudly served as a trustee for the Donnelly Trust, providing educational scholarships for many students in need. Judge Buddy was an avid sportsman, spending time both hunting and fishing, as well as following Gator Football. A lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, outdoor pursuits were his third love (behind family and the law.) He was missed by all who had the honor of knowing him. He was survived by his wife Mickey, his children Trey (Tenya) Aulls of Eustis, Christy (Gator) Bradshaw of Ocala, his grandchildren Ernest C. Aulls IV and Ansley Aulls, and his brother, Morton (Mary Jane) Aulls of New Smyrna Beach. The family received friends in the Hamlin & Hilbish Chapel on Thursday, August 27,2009, from 5 until 7 PM. Services were held at the graveside in Greenwood Cemetery, Eustis at 10 AM Friday, August 28, 2009. Rev. Brooks Braswell officiated. In lieu of flowers the family prefered memorials to the National Rifle Association' NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 or Autism Speaks, 5455 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2250, Los Angeles, CA 90036www.autismspeaks.org.
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