“I don’t have one favorite one, but I have a lot, a lot of great memories,” Jerry Hodge said when asked about his best memory from his time at SWOSU.
“Neff Hall was where I stayed; Stewart Hall was where the women stayed. They locked the doors on the women dorms at midnight on the weekends and at 10 p.m. during the week. You had to improvise how to get them out,” Jerry Hodge said with a laugh. Jerry graduated from SWOSU in 1965
Jerry graduated from SWOSU in 1965 with a pharmacy degree. He then started his own pharmacy in Texas and he later branched into other businesses.
After great success, Jerry was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from SWOSU in 1979. Hodge also served as mayor of Amarillo, Texas, from 1977-1981.
Jerry and wife Margaret recently donated $5 million, the largest single donation the university has ever received, towards the new pharmacy and rural health facility, named in their honor. Friday saw the groundbreaking for The Jerry & Margaret Hodge Pharmacy & Rural Health Center. The Hodges also stayed for SWOSU’s annual picnic where Jerry read a few stories from his new book and signed copies for those in attendance.
“He has always talked so fondly about Southwestern because of what it meant to him” Margaret said. “Growing up in rural Oklahoma, going to school here (at SWOSU)—because of what he experienced gave him the foundation to go out and be successful, be an entrepreneur, and make a difference in the world.”
Jerry was not the only family member who attended SWOSU. His mother, cousins, aunts and uncles also graduated from the university. Because of his fond time at SWOSU and the family connection, the Hodges were excited about the opportunity to help make this new facility a reality.
“We liked the idea and the concept when Dr. Beutler—Randy, as I like to call him—pitched the idea to us about pharmacy and rural health and the P.A. Program they hope to get one day,” Jerry said.
Margaret also has a medical background, so she has a personal connection to the new facility as well. “My degree is in Medical Technology, and I did work in a hospital for about 17 years and then I went into pharmaceutical sales, which is how we met.”
“The whole healthcare and medical idea was very appealing. We do have people approach us from time to time with different ideas, and we both agreed this facility was a great idea,” Margaret said. “Jerry has always had the attitude of ‘let’s see what we can do; let’s make things happen.’”
While the two knew the new facility would make a difference for SWOSU, they never anticipated the overpowering thanks they would receive for their donation.
“I was in tears,” Margaret said. Jerry concurred he shed a few tears as well because of all the “wonderful things” said at the groundbreaking. “The people here are incredible. They made us feel like we had been given a gift, not us giving a gift. They gave us this gift of tremendous appreciation. I was overwhelmed,” Margaret said.
Jerry also added his praise for others who have given donations to SWOSU. “The foundation has done a great job. I think a lot of Pharmacy alumni have really stepped up, which I think is great.” Along with celebrating the groundbreaking, Jerry shed some light on how his book You’re on,
Along with celebrating the groundbreaking, Jerry shed some light on how his book You’re on, Cowboy! came into being.
“I always tell stories that start out with ‘Let me tell you…’ so Margaret got me a leather-bound book of parchment paper. She had a list of stories and she told me to put them down, and she had a page for each story. So that’s how it started.”
Jerry then worked on the book for 5 years and had a few people help him get it ready. “He’s enjoyed the process,” Margaret said. “I hope people enjoy it. It’s different; it’s not a true autobiography. It’s life lessons and people who
“I hope people enjoy it. It’s different; it’s not a true autobiography. It’s life lessons and people who had an influence on my life,” Jerry said. Margaret credits his “steel-trap” memory for making the book a success. She gave an example of
Margaret credits his “steel-trap” memory for making the book a success. She gave an example of his astounding memory by citing a recent event at the Elk City library.
“We were there for a book signing,” she said. In the middle of the signing, Margaret said he stopped everything and went to talk to a 90-year-old man. According to Margaret, Jerry said, “Do you remember me? You taught me 9th grade math at Gotebo.”
The elderly man then told Margaret, “I remember him. He was ornery.”
Margaret said, “Guess what? He still is.”