Amarillo community mourns passing of Jerry Hodge, 'a mountain of a man'

Amarillo lost one of its most influential businessmen and philanthropists and its youngest mayor in history Wednesday evening with the passing of Jerry H. Hodge, who died at age 81.

The 2018 Amarillo Globe-News Man of the Year and two-term mayor made a tremendous impact on the landscape of the city of Amarillo, with achievements that will continue to shape its future.

His obituary reads : "Jerry was born September 7, 1942, in Carnegie, OK to Robert Herman (Bob) Hodge and Creda Arvona Ainsworth Hodge. Jerry and his parents moved to Amarillo in 1957, changing the course of Jerry’s life, and forever altering the landscape of Amarillo. Jerry graduated from Tascosa High School in 1960. ... Jerry purchased Maxor Drug at the age of 23 and over the next 49 years, made Maxor grow from a single storefront located in downtown Amarillo into a nationwide provider of integrated pharmacy services with pharmacies in over a dozen states. Today, Maxor National Pharmacy Services employs over 1,000 people."

His decision to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy, which he graduated from in 1965, would shape much of his early career. Just one year later, he founded Maxor National Pharmacy Services, where he would later serve as chairman and chief executive officer until his retirement in 2016.

In 1973, Hodge ran and won a position on the Amarillo City Commission and, in 1977, became the youngest mayor in Amarillo history, serving two terms. Seeking a return to the mayoral office in 2005, Hodge lost to Debra McCart in the election.

Hodge served on various boards across the city, state and nation. He served on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy from 1981 to 1987, including as president (1984-85) and was a past president of the Texas Panhandle Pharmaceutical Association and charter member of the American Society of Consulting Pharmacists.

According to his obituary, Hodge's accolades include being an inductee into the Tascosa High School Hall of Fame, the recipient of the Denver Health CEO Award, St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan’s Angelus Award, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Hope Award, and the Amarillo Globe News 100 History Makers of the 20th Century Award.

Hodge leaves lasting legacy in Amarillo and beyond as community mourns

Among the countless contributions he and his wife, Margaret, made throughout the area, some of the most notable ones include his leadership in the city, pharmacy industry and other boards, as well as in higher education and professional baseball.

For area education, Hodge was an instrumental part in the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy and having Texas Tech bring its School of Veterinary Medicine, to which he donated $10 million to its Amarillo campus.

Thursday afternoon, the Texas Tech University System and TTUHSC media issued a statement: "In 2019, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) named its School of Pharmacy after Jerry Hodge in recognition of his support and dedication to the Panhandle region. Throughout his life, Hodge worked to advance the field of pharmacy, and the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy will continue his legacy. Over the years, Jerry and Margaret Hodge have shown consistent philanthropic support for TTUHSC, Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health and the Texas Tech University System."

“Jerry was an incredible leader, businessman and philanthropist who made a tremendous impact in the pharmaceutical field, his community and our entire Texas Tech University System," said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., TTUS Chancellor, in a statement. "He was fearless. A true trailblazer, he took risks and never hesitated to stand tall for the causes he believed in. And by doing so, he made us better. Establishing the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo would not have been possible without the passionate support of Jerry and his wife, Margaret. And the entire Texas Tech University System would not be where it is today without the Hodges. Their generosity has known no bounds, and we are forever grateful for all Jerry has done for our universities, the TTU System and our communities.”

Hodge was also a leader in helping the city of Amarillo secure a Double-A baseball team in 2019 to the area with the relocation of the San Antonio Missions, later renamed Sod Poodles, to Amarillo. The home ballpark of the team is named Hodgetown in his honor . Also named in his honor was the Jerry H. Hodge Unit at the Texas State Prison in Rusk.

In a Thursday evening statement, the Amarillo Sod Poodles said it joins the entire Amarillo community today in mourning the loss of one of Amarillo’s best. "Hodge was an iconic generational leader in Amarillo, philanthropist, and family man. His love for his family, friends, baseball, and the City of Amarillo were unmatched. Jerry’s memories and love for the game of baseball started in his youth as a player and student of the game. He so wanted to share his love of the game with young families all over the Panhandle, that he spearheaded the efforts to bring professional baseball back to his hometown Amarillo."

Sod Poodles President and General Manager Tony Ensor released the following statement: "Our hearts are broken to hear of the passing of our dear friend and mentor, Jerry Hodge. Jerry was a cherished member of our Sod Poodle family. Our love and prayers go out to his wife Margaret and the entire family. Jerry, we love you, we’ll miss you, but we will never forget you. Your name and memory will live on with generations of families who will create their own memories in THE BEAUTIFUL HOUSE THAT JERRY BUILT, HODGETOWN!"

In addition to his Amarillo contributions, Jerry and Margaret Hodge donated $5 million to his alma mater , Southwestern Oklahoma State, for a state-of-the-art facility and endowment in 2021. Hodge was inducted by the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1979 and was honored by the SWOSU College of Pharmacy as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2008.

Current city councilman and former Amarillo Globe-News publisher Les Simpson worked with Hodge and Ben Masters on Hodge's autobiographical book , “You’re On Cowboy!: Lessons Learned from Taking Risks, Taking Names and Knowing When to Fold,” which was released in 2021.

“There isn’t anyone who loved Amarillo more than Jerry Hodge. He created a legacy of service and philanthropy that will benefit our city for years to come," Simpson said.

'Nothing small about his life': Local leaders, friends share thoughts and tributes

Former Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson also spoke on his passing.

“Simply put, Jerry Hodge loved Amarillo. He raised his family here and started a small business, which he built into a multimillion-dollar business here," she said. “Jerry dreamed big, negotiated hard and never stopped working to bring opportunities to Amarillo. Without Jerry and Margaret, Amarillo would not have the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy and the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. We also would not have the Sod Poodles or Hodgetown. Jerry’s passion and love for Amarillo will live on as our city continues to reap the benefits from decades of his work and generosity to the city. Amarilloans will always be grateful for how Jerry Hodge loved us and loved our city. I will miss him."

Current Mayor Cole Stanley weighed in on the death of one of the true entrepreneurs of the city.

“We have just learned of the passing of one of Amarillo’s dearest leaders," current Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said. "Jerry Hodge has left a legacy of servant leadership in Amarillo and will always be remembered as a true professional. Our prayers are with his family and closest friends."

George Raffkind, a close friend and colleague of Hodge for about 40 years, gave his impressions of him. “When I think of Mr. Hodge, he was a tough businessman, but truthfully, to his friends, family, and employees, he was a real sweetheart. Everybody thought he was a real tough guy, but those that knew him knew that he would bend over backwards and do everything he could.”

Raffkind said that he learned a lot from Hodge and that both of them tended to cheat at golf.

“When I was on board at Maxor with him, I got to do business with him. We became great friends,” he said. “We had some good times; he was always having a good time. He did a lot for Amarillo. While he made a lot of money, he and his wife did their best to put it back into the community. He truly loved Amarillo.”

Brian Heinrich, an attorney for Hodge and close friend, reflected on his humble beginnings.

“Jerry may have come from humble beginnings, but there was nothing small about his life," Heinrich said. “He left every place better than better than when it took it over. He will surely be missed by the citizens of Amarillo, his current and former employees and certainly his family and friends. Jerry was a mountain of a man; he did everything large and left everything better than it was when he began working with it.”

Heinrich said that his favorite memory of Hodge was formed during a mediation at a settlement conference.

"Even though I was the attorney, and he was not, I learned so much from his negotiation skills," Heinrich said. “He grew up in a very rural area of Oklahoma where he went to school in a small schoolhouse while living in a house that did not initially have indoor plumbing. For somebody to come from that background and do all the things that he did and accomplish everything that he did in his lifetime is truly a great American success story, and all of us can try to learn from and emulate it. For somebody to come from that background and do all the things that he did in his lifetime is truly a great American story.”

Another friend of over 30 years, Michael Hughes, spoke about Hodge’s loyalty and tenacity.

“Jerry was just a real loyal friend; if you were his friend, it meant he stuck by you through thick and thin,” Hughes said. "I learned a lot from him. He just knew how to get things done. He was very charismatic and had lots of friends in lots of different places across the country. If he asked for favors, he always returned them. He was probably the main reason we got the Texas Tech Veterinary School. He worked and worked it and called in many favors from people all over the state to make it happen.”

Hughes said Hodge, through his philanthropy, showed who he really was.

“He was very generous to anybody in need, and he was quick to help those less fortunate," he said. "Many projects might not have happened in the city without him. He was very instrumental in both the Texas Tech Pharmacy and the Veterinary Schools. He was critical to both projects. Pharmacy was his life, and he was very innovative in building a very large pharmacy benefit company that still exists today that did very well.”

The City of Amarillo said it joined the entire Amarillo community Thursday in mourning the loss of the former city councilmember and mayor, as well as a historic leader, businessman, and philanthropist.

The City of Amarillo issued this statement: “There have been many people who left their imprint on Amarillo – none bigger than Jerry Hodge. From becoming the youngest mayor in city history to leading the way to historic progress throughout the city, Hodge’s list of accomplishments is second to none. His leadership and influence ranges from the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to “Hodgetown” – the downtown multipurpose event venue that brought professional baseball back to Amarillo. Hodge’s commitment and dedication to Amarillo created a legacy that is unmatched. Hodge’s duty, service and love of Amarillo extended far beyond his extensive business success. Amarillo truly is a better place because of Jerry Hodge.”

During the Globe-News Man of the Year ceremony in 2019, Hodge said, "My love for Amarillo started in 1957 on Polk Street, and it's grown every day."

Visitation with family and friends will be 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at First Baptist Church, 1208 South Tyler, with Dr. Howie Batson officiating. Interment will follow at Llano Cemetery.

The obituary says, in recognition of the amazing care provided by Dr. Alan Keister, the family requests memorials be made to Heal the City, 609 S. Carolina Street, Amarillo, TX 79106.

More: 2017 HEADLINERS: Jerry Hodge, Alex Fairly instrumental in bringing baseball back to Amarillo

More: 2019 HEADLINER: Jerry Hodge continues making positive impact on Amarillo community

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo community mourns passing of Jerry Hodge, 'a mountain of a man'