Sam N. Hodges, Jr., age 95, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on July 26, 2018. An Atlanta native, he was born on September 16, 1922, the son of Sam N. Hodges, Sr. and Marian Wells Hodges. His early years were spent in Garden Hills, attending E. Rivers Elementary and North Fulton High School where in his sophomore year he won 2nd place as “Best Drilled Cadet” (ROTC) in the city of Atlanta, was president of the student body his senior year and was elected “Best Leader” in the school yearbook. During this time, he also earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14, which he said had a life building influence on him throughout his life. Sam graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in June of 1943. While at Tech he was vice president of his Senior Class, president of the 2nd Lieutenant Club (ROTC), and student editor of the GA Tech Alumnus Magazine. He was a life-long “Yellow Jacket” fan and supporter of Georgia Tech.
In July of 1943, Sam entered OCS at Fort Benning and graduated in November as a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry. He went on maneuvers in the deserts of Arizona and California until the spring of 1944, and came home to Atlanta to marry his sweetheart, Anita Peavy, on April 1st. A week later the Army sent Sam to England to prepare for the WWII invasion of Europe. He crossed the English Channel on D-Day plus 5, landing on Omaha Beach. He joined Company K, 115th Infantry, 29th Division as a rifle platoon leader. After 4 months of combat, 4 battle stars, promotion to 1st Lieutenant, 2 bronze stars, 2 purple hearts and the combat infantryman badge, Sam and Company K were captured in Schierwaldenrath, Germany on October 4, 1944 and became POWs and were shipped to Oflag 64 in Schubin, Poland. In January of 1945, the Germans marched the POWs by foot over 350 miles across Poland to escape the Russian advancement. They were liberated in April in Mooseburg, Germany and the war was over.
Returning to Atlanta in June of 1945, Sam was promoted to Captain, sent to Camp Wheeler in Macon until honorable discharge on January 1, 1946. He immediately started working for his Dad in the construction business, and Sam and Anita started raising their family—four daughters and one son were born between 1946 and 1958. In 1950, Sam started his own residential construction company, Sam Hodges Company, and in 1955 changed to commercial construction until he sold his business in 1982. He stayed in the Army Reserve until 1955, was promoted to Major, Infantry, then resigned after 12 years of service due to business pressures.
After “retiring”, Sam continued with construction consulting and giving seminars on “Concrete Tilt-Up Construction” until 1996. He gave seminars in 87 cities and 6 foreign countries, with many repeats. Personal life included travels to 42 countries and all U.S. states, volunteer work for GA Tech, Reinhardt College and Church.
Sam was a member and past president (1966-67) of Associated General Contractors of America (Georgia Branch); member of the Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta, Cobb County and Hall County; member of the Buckhead Exchange Club, American Concrete Association, and Tilt-Up Concrete Association. In 2003 he received the Peter Courtois Memorial Award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Art of Tilt-Up Construction.”
Also, he was a past member of the Atlanta Commerce Club, Ansley Golf Club, Capitol City Club, Buckhead Boys Club (inducted as an Honoree in 2003), and charter member and past board member of Cherokee Town and Country Club. He was an avid golfer and was so proud of his first hole in one in 1993 at Cherokee Town and Country Club!
But what Sam will be remembered for most is his love of family and friends, his loyalty, generosity, his sense of fun, easy-going manner and that million-dollar grin.
Sam is pre-deceased by his mother and father, Marian and Sam Hodges, Sr.; his wife, Anita; his grand-nephew, Benjamin Hawkins; his daughter, Adele (Dell) Hodges Curlee; his sister, Caroline Hodges Roberts and her husband, L. Marvin Roberts, Jr. and many cousins.
Survivors include 4 children: Nan Eberly (husband Ray), Sam (Butch) Hodges III (wife Linda), Pam Jones (husband Ed), Jane Hodges; 5 grandchildren: Chris Eberly, Mike Eberly (wife Livy), Lt Col Matt Eberly, MD (wife Rachel), Reese Jones (wife Maria), Allison Jones, and step-granddaughter Penny Dougherty; 9 great grandchildren: Matthew Eberly, Jr., Maria Eberly, Catherine Eberly, Lila Eberly, Sam Eberly, Ches Jones, Pallie Jones, Georgia Jones, Rosajune Jones, and step-great grandson Justin Dougherty. Also many nieces, a nephew, a grand-niece, grand-nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 2 pm at H.M. Patterson & Son-Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Visitation with family will be prior to the service from 1 pm-2 pm in the reception area.
