Evening star., 1944-12-19

The cortege will leave the Hodges
home here at 3 pm.
Col. Hodges, who was the first
managing director of the Virginia
State Chamber of Commerce, is
survived by his widow, the former
Miss Almeria Hill of Petersburg: a
daughter, Mrs. Rosa Bate Hodges
Mclaughlin; son, Leroy Hodges.
jr., and his father, Eli Blucher
Hodges.
Authority on Ordnance.
Long interested in the civic, politi-
cal and economic development of
Virginia, Col Hodges was recog-
nized for his attainments in the
fields of economics, social security,
public finance. public administra-
ton and military science, being rec
Fognized by the War Department as
an authority on ordnance.
T. He was native of Tarboro, n. c..
and a graduate of Washington and
Lee University.
Col. Hodges began his career ir
public hfe in 1916 when he was
called from the associate editorshil
| of the Petersburg Index-AppeaI to
serve as secretary of the State Com
mission on Economy and Efficiency
His work in that position is credited
with having paved the way for more
effective control of State expendi-
lures. and in 1918 Gov. Westmore-
land Davis appointed him secretary
in charge of the budget.
In 1922, Gov. E. Lee Trinkle ap-
pointed him the first director of the
budget, and two years later he re-
signed to accept the position as
managing director of the State
Chamber of Commerce.
Headed Prison Board.
! While serving under Gov. Davis
he was made president of the State
Prison Board in 1920. a position he
held until 1926. and he is generally
credited with many of the reforms
in the Virginia penal system He
again served as a member of the
Prison Board from 1880 until 1887
| Col. Hodges resigned his position
as managing director of the State
Chamber of Commerce and as a
member of the Prison Board in 1887
and became director of the Bureau
of Old Age Insurance of the SociaI
Security Board, where he remained
until 1888, when he was appointed
State controller by Gov. James H
Price. AS controller he also had
charge of the Compensation Board
Long a student of Army ordnance
Col. Hodges served as ordnance off.
Ger of the Virginia National Guarc
| and was author of textbook or
that subject which was the first
work of its kind by Nationa
Guard officer to receive Endorsement
of the War Department chief Of
ordnance
He was called to active duty in
1910 as a Reserve officer, but the
order was soon revoked on the
grounds of physical disqualification
He won another examination at Fort
Monroe in 194l and passed it, and
began active duty with the War De-
partment in Washington in January
1912, but soon was stricken with
leukemia and was placed on the in
active list in August. 1912.
Aided Industrial Development.
AS director of the State Chamber
of Commerce, Col Hodges earned
an international reputation and at
the same time helped to shape the
course of industrial development in
Virginia. He was vigorously opposed
to ''sweatshop" industries, but urged
the States advantages on perma-
nent industries he felt would be
assets to the State.
Among his honors were included
the titles of Officer of the Order
of the Crown, conferred on him by
the Italian government. and Officer
of the Order of the White Lion,
conferred upon him by Czechoslo-
vakia. He was a member of Pi
Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa.
j. Vaughan Gary, president of the
State Chamber, declared few men,
if any, have served Virginia with
greater zeal. devotion and ability
than Leroy Hodges. His death
is genuine loss and will be keenly
felt in nanv fields"