Hank Hodges
August 24, 1923 – April 3, 2015
One of Staplcotn’s most legendary employees, Mr. Herman Lee “Hank” Hodges, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2015, at the age of 91. Hodges began his career at Staple Cotton Cooperative Association when he was still in high school as an office boy. Hodges worked his way up holding nearly every position at Staplcotn and Stapldiscount and was named President and CEO of both organizations in 1978. He held that position until his retirement in 1986.
Hodges served as Chairman of Amcot, Inc. and Amcot, International of Osaka, Japan. He served as President of Cotton Council International, director of National Cotton Council, vice president of Delta Council and president of Mississippi Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He served as president of Greenwood Junior Chamber of Commerce and National Director of U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Hodges, who had a special needs son, was instrumental in the organization of Region VI Mental Health (LifeHelp) and served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for 28 years. Additionally, he was the founder and President of Beacon Harbor, a home for developmentally disabled adults. Hodges was also District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America and a director of Leflore County United Givers.
Hodges received the Lions Club award as Outstanding Citizen of Leflore County in 2003 and the Greenwood Commonwealth Outstanding Citizen Award in 2005. He was a member of The Episcopal Church of the Nativity and had served on the Vestry. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William Richard Hodges, his sister, Sue Hodges Townsend, his sons, Rev. William Lee Hodges and Robert Wilson Hodges. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Downing Hodges, his granddaughter, Carrie Downing Hodges Long and her husband Rhyine, his grandson Matthew Hodges and his wife, Melanie and a great-granddaughter, Ann Frances Downing Long.
