Steve Hodges
{{Short description|American politician (1949–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Steve Hodges
| image =
| imagesize = 150px
| state_house = Missouri
| district = 149th
| term_start = 2007
| term_end = 2015
| preceded =
| succeeded = Don Rone Jr.
| birth_name = James Stephen Hodges
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|02|02}}
| birth_place = Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|09|1949|02|02}}
| death_place = Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Grocer|teacher}}
| alma_mater = Southeast Missouri State University
University of Missouri
| party = Democrat
| spouse = {{marriage|Amy Johnson|1972|2014|end = div}}
| children = 3
| website =
}}
James Stephen Hodges Sr. (February 2, 1949 – October 9, 2024) was an American politician, educator, and former small business owner from the state of Missouri. Hodges served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives since being elected in November 2006. A Democrat, he represented the 149th District, which includes all of New Madrid County as well as portions of Mississippi County and Pemiscot County from 2007 to 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Hodges|title=Steve Hodges|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|access-date=April 2, 2020}}
Background
Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, James Stephen Hodges was raised in East Prairie, Missouri and was a graduate of East Prairie High School.{{cite web|url = https://www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Hodges-36/#!/Obituary|title = James Stephen "Steve" Hodges Sr.|website = Ford & Sons Funeral Home|accessdate = October 12, 2024}} Following high school he attended Southeast Missouri State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration, and the University of Missouri, where he obtained a Master of Business Administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2013&district=149 |title=Representative Steve Hodges District 149 Democrat|accessdate=February 17, 2013}}
Career
Prior to entering politics Hodges spent thirty years as manager and owner of an East Prairie supermarket. When not involved with his legislative duties he worked as a substitute teacher and a referee for various high school sports. He served on his local school board for twelve years before seeking election to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2006, winning his election. In 2012, he defeated local opera singer and America's Got Talent winner Neal E. Boyd to be re-elected to the Missouri House.{{cite web|url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/20025256/hodges-wins-mo-house-seat-in|title=Hodges wins Mo. House seat in 149th District|date=November 7, 2012|accessdate=February 17, 2013}}
On February 16, 2013, he was chosen by Democratic Party leaders from southeast Missouri to run in a special election for Missouri's 8th congressional district to succeed U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson, who had resigned. Hodges came in second in the race while Jason Smith won the race.{{cite web|last=Kander|first=Jason|title=State of Missouri - Special Election|date=June 4, 2013|url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/sosenr/state.asp?selectelection=750002658|work=Official Government Report|publisher=Missouri Secretary of Tate's Office|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111192154/http://enr.sos.mo.gov/sosenr/state.asp?selectelection=750002658|archivedate=November 11, 2013}} He was a conservative Democrat who opposed abortion and gun control, but said he was a Democrat because he had a "social conscience".Sanders, Matt. [http://www.dailystatesman.com/story/1942557.html Hodges tapped as Dem. nominee]. Daily Statesman, February 19, 2013.
In the early morning hours of February 6, 2014, Representative Hodges was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving by police in Jefferson City, Missouri.{{cite web|url=http://www.komu.com/news/state-representative-apologizes-for-dwi|title=State Representative apologizes for DWI|publisher=Associated Press via KOMU-TV website|date=February 7, 2014|accessdate=February 10, 2014}} When asked for comment on the incident Hodges told the Associated Press he had stopped in a parking lot and fell on some ice when exiting the vehicle. Unable to get to his feet, an ambulance and police were summoned to the scene. The state representative was transported to an area hospital where he was treated and released for unspecified injuries. It was then he was arrested but was not jailed. No charges have as yet been formally filed. Hodges issued a statement admitting that he had been drinking on the evening of February 5 but did not feel he was legally intoxicated. He apologized for the incident and said he was looking into receiving counseling.
Personal life and death
In 1972, Hodges married Amy Johnson, and they had three sons.{{cite web|url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/21224861/a-look-at-mo-congressional-candidate-steve-hodges|title=A look at Mo. congressional candidate Steve Hodges|date=February 16, 2013|work=kfvs12.com}} The couple divorced in 2014 after 41 years of matrimony.{{cite web|url=http://www.standard-democrat.com/story/2049683.html|title=Area lawmaker apologizes for Thursday DWI citation|publisher=Associated Press via Sikeston Standard-Democrat website|date=February 8, 2014|accessdate=February 10, 2014}} Their son Andrew was the valedictorian of his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}
Hodges died at a care home in Cape Girardeau on October 9, 2024, at the age of 75.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodges, Steve}}
Category:American United Methodists
Category:Candidates in the 2013 United States elections
Category:Democratic Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives
Category:Methodists from Missouri
Category:People from Mississippi County, Missouri
Category:Schoolteachers from Missouri
Category:Southeast Missouri State University alumni
Category:University of Missouri alumni
Category:21st-century members of the Missouri General Assembly