Former Amarillo city councilmember and mayor Jerry Hodge, passed away Thursday at 81. Hodge became the youngest mayor in city history in 1977. He served on city council from 1973-1977.
The City of Amarillo released the following 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.”
Current Amarillo mayor Cole Stanley said:
“We just learned of the passing of one of Amarillo’s dearest leaders. 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.”
Amarillo city councilmember Place 4 Les Simpson said:
“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."What stood out to me was his love and devotion to his wife, Margaret, who he called the best thing that ever happened to him. And she was. They were an incredible team together.”
In 2019, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center announced the naming of its pharmacy school as the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy. The naming, previously approved by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, honors the lifelong dedication and support of TTUHSC by Hodge.
Texas Tech University System Chancellor and TTUHSC President Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell said Hodge’s leadership and involvement at the state level was instrumental in helping the university establish the School of Pharmacy in 1993, the first publicly supported pharmacy program in the United States in nearly five decades.
“The impact Jerry Hodge has had on this community has been extraordinary,” Mitchell said. “His commitment and longstanding dedication to this region, the city of Amarillo and to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has been transformative as we wouldn’t be here today without this family’s devotion and support.”
In the mid-1960s, Hodge, a licensed pharmacist, purchased Maxor Drugs and transformed it from a small community drugstore into Maxor National Pharmacy Services Corporation, a company that currently employs about 450 people in Amarillo and more than 660 people nationwide.
Hodge served as Maxor’s chairman and chief executive officer until he retired in 2016, but his work wasn’t limited to filling prescriptions. In 1977, at the age of 34, Hodge was elected the youngest mayor in Amarillo history. Four years later, in 1981, he was named to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and served until 1987.
Hodge was also credited as a major benefactor spearheading the development of Hodgetown Stadium, which was built to house the city’s professional baseball team, the Amarillo Sod Poodles, and opened in 2019. In recognition of his influence on the project, the stadium incorporated his name into its title.
Hodge served as a board member of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice where he played a role in the betterment of the William P. Clements Unit as well as the Jerry H. Hodge Skyview Unit, which houses inmates with mental disabilities.
Locally, Hodge was recognized as the 2018 Amarillo Globe-News Man of the Year.
In 2021, Hodge wrote a book, “You’re on Cowboy,” after coming to terms with his health struggles and created a memoir detailing his life, including his love for his ranch and the outdoors, which he took more time to appreciate in his later life. In that book, Hodge also spoke about being recognized as Man of the Year as one of his greatest accomplishments.
"I worked with Jerry on 'You’re On Cowboy,' a book about his life that was published in 2021. There are so many great stories of such an incredible life in the book. I once joked that Jerry was the only person in the world to take on both Boone Pickens and Oprah Winfrey and live to tell the tale!" Simpson said.
Several of Amarillo's former mayors shared their thoughts on the lasting legacy of Hodge.
Ginger Nelson, mayor from 2017-2023:
Simply put, Jerry Hodge loved Amarillo. He raised his family here. He started a small business and built it into a multi-million dollar business here. Jerry dreamed big, negotiated hard and never stopped working to bring opportunities to Amarillo. Without Jerry and Margaret, Amarillo wouldn’t have the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy or the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. We wouldn’t 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 Jerry’s work and generosity in our city. Amarilloans will always be grateful for how Jerry Hodge loved us and loved our city. I will miss him.
Paul Harpole, mayor from 2011-2017:
Jerry and his family remain in our thoughts and prayers. Jerry Hodge and Glen Parkey called on me at work many years ago and convinced me to run for City Commission. He was responsible for getting me to run for my first elected office. Jerry was a very strong minded friend who always did what he felt was best for his town, Amarillo. His leadership and strength will be missed. Our sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace Jerry, you have completed your work.
Debra McCartt, mayor from 2005-2011:
The name of Jerry Hodge will forever be remembered in Amarillo as a true community builder. He was a visionary for this city, a true philanthropist who gave so much of his finances to better the quality of life for those living here and a man who loved life and lived every day of it with a strong determination to make that day better than the day before.After his love of family, being a true ‘cowboy’ was always foremost in his mind. The hard work he put into running a cattle ranch was evidence of his love of the range. He ran a very successful pharmacy business, he was an influencer in Texas politics and always the consummate ‘deal maker’, Jerry was also a successful mayor of Amarillo. I admire anyone who would ‘throw their cowboy hat in the ring’ for public office. His name will forever be written in Amarillo books of those who made a very positive difference in this community.Thank you Jerry Hodge for all your hard work!
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