Richmond Hobson entered the Naval Academy in Annapolis at the age of 15 and graduated FIRST in his class of 1889. As a Naval OFFICER, he was not eligible for the MOH at the time it was awarded to his 7 volunteers. Changing guidelines made him eligible after 1917, and his was awarded by Special Act of Congress in 1933. It was fitting as Hobson served as Congressman from Alabama’s 6th District from 1907 – 1915 (as well as a Presidential elector from Alabama in 1904). World War I MOH recipient Richmond H. (Hobson) Hilton was named for Hobson when he was born in the same year as Hobson’s heroic and well publicized mission. Richmond P. Hobson retired as a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.