Vechel Lester Rhodes Sr.

Vechel Lester Rhodes, Sr. would be an unusual and unique individual, being that he was born on New Year’s Day in 1942 in Rocky Hill, Kentucky, to his parents the late Ora Hibbitt Rhodes and Alonzo Rhodes. In his childhood days, he helped his parents maintain the farm, along with the rest of his nine siblings.

Vechel attended The Rocky Hill Baptist Church, which was also his elementary school. When he was sixteen years old, the Rhodes family moved to Indianapolis and Vechel attended Harry Woods High School. During his teenage years he worked as a landscaper for a wealthy Jewish couple, Mr. & Mrs. George Ressler, who mentored him and inspired him to become self-sufficient. He also maintained a paper route with “The Indianapolis Times” and he received an Honorary Carrier Award. During this time, Vechel met his soon to be wife, Roberta.

Shortly after proposing to her, he decided to move to New York City to work for his uncle, role model, and Harlem’s restaurant owner, Sherman Hibbitt, so he could save money for his soon to be marriage. In 1964, after several years of hard work at “Sherman’s Barbeque”, Vechel returned home to Indianapolis at the age of 21, and married Roberta. He bought his first dump truck and worked as an independent owner-operator until 1967.

In 1967, Vechel was given an opportunity of a lifetime. He was appointed by the former bankruptcy judge, Judge Nowin, to be the administrator of one of the first black owned dump trucking firms in the State of Indiana, Donald Stone Trucking, Co, Inc. After managing the company, Vechel realized the major keys to the success of the dump truck business was to have truck capacity. That’s when he started promoting the development of other minority businesses. Vechel partnered with four individuals, which formed a new minority dump trucking firm in 1967, which was named Stone & Rhodes Trucking Co. Vechel L. Rhodes Sr. continued contributing to the growth and the development of the Indianapolis Community. He continued to provide employment opportunities to many people of all races, genders, educational disadvantages, as well as ex-offenders.

Vechel and Roberta then had two children, a daughter named Vechel Lanet Rhodes in 1969 and a son named Vechel Rhodes Jr. in 1972.

As the years progressed, Vechel founded and co-founded many other businesses which included Myers Trucking Co., Inc in 1972, A&R Enterprises, Inc. in 1985, V.L Rhodes Enterprises, Inc. in 1989, A to Z Fashions and Things in 1989, P & R Enterprises & Dump Trucking, Inc, Horse Cave, Kentucky in 1989, Consumer Casket Sales Inc. in 1995, Jubilee Mortgage Co., Inc. in 1989, Community Empowerment Associates in 1999 which serves as a community service center for the Marion County Probation Center, V.L. Rhodes Excavating Leasing Sales and Service, LLC, in 2003, Discount Casket Sales and Service, Small Engine Sales and Service in 2004, along with sharecropping tobacco, growing corn, raising cattle, and other farm animals at the Buck Creek and the Rocky Hill Farms he owned in Kentucky. Vechel L. Rhodes achieved several great levels of success as a minority business owner and leader of Indianapolis for over 40 years. He was featured in The Indianapolis Business Journal for owning one of the largest minority owned businesses and The Wall Street Journal several times.

Vechel belonged to several organizations which included: the first group to pioneer members in The Concerned Clergy, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Race Relations Board, The Indianapolis Urban League, Master Mason and 32nd degree Mason, Prince Hall Masonic Waterford Lodge #13, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Task Force of East and North Districts, The Greater Indianapolis Church Federation, and The Friday Group.

He served as a dedicated and loyal volunteer for the “Annual IPD Community Day”, “Annual Walk with IPD”, and Ten Point Coalition events.

Vechel L. Rhodes, Sr., departed this life on Friday, June 16, 2023, at the age of 81 years and 5 months. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 30 years, Roberta Rhodes; parents Alonzo & Ora Hibbitt Rhodes; brothers Mitchell (Gene) Rhodes, Emanual Rhodes, Sr., Rhyman Rhodes, Sr. and Sherman Rhodes; sisters, Shirley Nell Austin, Yvonne Boyd, and Helen Smith; daughter Vechelle Lanet Rhodes-Sanders.

He leaves to cherish his memory, son Vechel L. Rhodes, Jr. (Valerie), daughter Tracey Evans, son-in-law Derrick Sanders; grand-daughter Velensia L. Brooks (Anthony, Jr.), Stacia & Shawnese Goliday, grandson Christian Rhodes and step-grandson Justin Willis-Jordan, life partner Ruthanna Willis; stepdaughters Tae-Kwon Willis and Sophia Willis, step grand-daughter Victoria Willis, step-grandsons De’Undre and Juan Estes; and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, Godchildren, extended family and friends.

A visitation for Vechel will be held Friday, June 30, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, followed by a celebration of life at 12:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Rhodes family.