William H. Hodges

William Howard Hodges (April 18, 1929 – September 14, 2017) was a retired Virginia Court of Appeals judge and state legislator.[1]

William H. Hodges
Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals
In office January 1985 – October 31, 1989
Preceded by	None (position created)
Succeeded by	Jere M. H. Willis, Jr.
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 3rd district
In office January 12, 1966 – January 12, 1972
Preceded by	Gordon F. Marsh
Succeeded by	William E. Fears
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 49th district
In office January 10, 1962 – January 12, 1966
Preceded by	Charles B. Cross, Jr.
Succeeded by	Stanley G. Bryan
Personal details
Born	William Howard Hodges April 18, 1929 Hickory, Virginia, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2017 (aged 88) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Randolph-Macon College Washington & Lee University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1951–1953

Early life and education

Hodges is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia (then known as Norfolk County, Virginia). Hodges graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1951, where he earned his B.A. in sociology. While at Randolph-Macon, he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. Hodges received his J.D. from the Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1956.[2] He practiced law in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Hodges was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, serving from 1951 to 1953.

Political and judicial career

Hodges was elected in 1961 as Democrat to the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 49th District. He served two terms in the House and then was elected to the Virginia Senate when incumbent State Senator William B. Spong was elected the U.S. Senate in 1966. Hodges represented the 3rd District, which included all of the cities of Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, from 1966 to 1972.

He was judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Virginia from 1972 to 1984. In 1977, Hodges was appointed by Governor Mills E. Godwin as Chairman of the Virginia Council on Criminal Justice. When the Virginia General Assembly created the Court of Appeals of Virginia in 1985, Judge Hodges was one of its first members. He served that court as an active member until 1989 and as a senior judge after that.

Awards and recognition

In 1981, Hodges was named First Citizen of the City of Chesapeake and in 1983 he received the Commendation Award from the Chesapeake Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his community service. In 1993 he was further honored by the Chamber for his contributions to the city.

Hodges has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake People's Bank, on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater Randolph-Macon College and as vice chairman of the Virginia Crime Commission.

References

1. "Judge William Howard Hodges". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
2. Randolph-Macon College website