Harold Harrison L. Hodges
Harold Harrison L. Hodges
March 29, 1947 ~ September 16, 2021
Harold Harrison L. Hodges was born in Rexburg, Idaho to Everett L. Hodges and Eva Lou Welch.
The first 18 years of his life were spent in Teton City, Idaho where he worked on the family farm and developed a strong and ingrained work ethic.
He attended South Fremont High School in St Anthony, Idaho, Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
After his mission he attended BYU, where he met his wife, Jeanne Davenport. They soon married on April 3, 1969 in the Idaho Falls temple.
Hal was an avid sports fan both on and off the field. “On the field” Hal was a talented four sport athlete. Lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was nominated as Athlete of the Year of South Fremont High School in 1965. He played Full Back for the Ricks College football team on a full ride athletic scholarship prior to leaving on his LDS Mission in April of 1966.
As an “off the field” fan, Hal was the ultimate optimist for the BYU sports programs. He was always convinced that the current year’s season was going to be “the best ever”! He dressed in his extensive BYU blue wardrobe for every game – whether he attended in person, or watched on TV.
In 1977, Hal & Jeanne moved to Highland, Utah where they lived and raised their family for 44 years. Participating in many cultural and civic endeavors, they watched Highland grow from a small rural community of 5,000 people to now approximately 20,000 residents.
Hal has a small percentage of Native American heritage from the Nez Pierce tribe. He and Jeanne built a family culture around that heritage and taught their children to honor the culture and contributions of their Native American ancestry. He was Chief Gray Wolf. The Hodges family reunions were called Tribal Pow Wows where all the grandchildren were given Indian names in a fireside naming ceremony.
With the aid of several Highland coaches, Hal was successful in acquiring a charter for Western Boys Baseball Association in Highland. Hal loved any kind of a uniform. As the Coach of the Highland Mets he dressed in the full blue & orange regulation baseball uniform and always insisted that his team come to the games in their full baseball uniform as well. Sometimes, players were chided for forgetting their stirrups, and sat the bench if they showed up in ankle socks instead of the knee high socks with stirrups while their mother fetched the correct leg coverings.
As the father of six sons, Hal devoted decades to coaching all six of his boys and their friends in baseball, basketball & football. His 17-18 year old Junior Jazz basketball team won the Utah State Championship title two years in a row. The trophies were awarded at halftime of the Jazz games. His coaching philosophy was to teach the boys solid athletic skills, mixed with fun, healthy competition, encouragement and validation.
Church service came early for Hal. He served as Assistant to the Mission President of the New Zealand South Mission. In his college years he served as Elders Quorum President and as a Bishop’s Counselor in the BYU 45th Ward. Upon Graduation from BYU, He and Jeanne moved to Orem, where he served as Bishop’s Counselor in the Orem 3rd Ward and then on the Orem Stake High Council. Moving to Highland, Utah in 1977 he served as Scoutmaster, Young Men’s President, Bishop’s Counselor twice, Stake High Councilor, and Stake Sunday School President.
As Stake Sunday School President, he organized a yearly “Teaching in the Savior’s Way” conference. As Highland Stake High Councilor he developed a highly successful two day Family History Fair. By recruiting notable experts in every area of genealogy research, the Highland Stake Family History Fair rapidly became the acclaimed gold standard for other stakes to try to duplicate.
In August of 2002, Hal was called as Bishop of the newly formed Highland 25th Ward. He served for seven years until 2009. Hal followed President Gordon B Hinkley’s counsel: “Get two young counselors, work them to death and then get two more.” Hal was definitely an activist Bishop, developing and implementing many innovative programs and projects to unify his rapidly growing, fledgling ward, including a ward pioneer trek to Wyoming, a Missionary Mentoring program and many ambitious ward service projects and activities.
After his release as Bishop of the Highland 25th Ward, Hal was called to serve, first as a counselor and then as a Branch President at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He served there for 4 ½ years during the time when President Monson announced the age change for missionary service. During those years his branch bulged from 50 to 130 elders and sisters. Approximately 500 missionaries came through President Hodges’ Portuguese speaking branch during those years of transition.
As the financial provider of his large family, he enjoyed a 35 year career for the O.C. Tanner Company based in Salt Lake City. The last four years of his career, Hal managed the O.C. Tanner Europe division located in London, England. At his retirement in 2012, he was an Executive Vice President of Sales.
From 2014 to 2017 Hal was on the Executive team of the Equity United Foundation where he organized and implemented the Park City Family Film Festival, and numerous cultural and civic educational seminars for the Equity United Lecture Series.
From 2018 to 2020, he & Jeanne served a two year MLS mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Cape Town, South Africa.
Hal excelled in every facet of his life. He was a fun dad, a good provider, a mentor to many, a devoted and loving husband, and a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Surely, he heard the words, “Well done thou good & faithful servant.” as he entered into the heavenly realms.
His premature and untimely death was caused by a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, 6 sons, their wives and 24 grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 12:00 noon in the Heritage Park Ward Chapel, located at 10390 North Alpine Highway, Highland, Utah. Family and friends may attend a visitation on Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Heritage Park Chapel. There will also be an additional visitation on Saturday morning from 10:30-11:30 am prior to services at the church. For those wishing to attend the services virtually, please use the following link: http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/highlandutahstake
Graveside service and burial will be in the Teton–Newdale Cemetery, Teton City, Idaho on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at 3:30 pm.
Funeral services are provided by Warenski Funeral Home in American Fork, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to OUR – Operation Underground Railroad (www.ourrescue.org).