Biographical Text
Professor Emerita of Health, Physical Education and Recreation Cleone Haynes Hodges (July 11, 1909-), was born in Shongaloo, Louisiana, the daughter of Lynn Bums and Oscar H. Haynes. Hodges attended Shongaloo High School and graduated in 1927. She has one son, Jack Bynum (September 17, 1949-). She also has two grandchildren: Erin Rene (May 2, 1985-) and Alyssa Starr (October 16, 1986) and two greatgrandchildren: Evelyn Faye (June 18, 2006) and Shawn Colin (June 26, 2007). In 1930, Hodges received her A.B. degree in science and agriculture from Louisiana State Normal College in Natchitoches. After graduating, she became a faculty member at Evergreen Elementary School in Grove, Louisiana, where she taught until 1934. In 1935, Hodges moved to Heflin Elementary School, where she taught from 1935 until 1936. Hodges received her M.S. degree in health and physical education from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, in 1938. Hodges came to Appalachian State Teachers' College (now Appalachian State University) in 1938 as an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education. While at Appalachian State, she served on the Student Teaching and Placement Committee (1965-68) and on the University Committee on Registration and Calendar (1970). Hodges was promoted to professor in 1973 and was given emerita status by the Board of Trustees in 1974 when she retired after thirty-six years of service to the university. A member of the Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Teachers Society, Hodges has also been president of the association. She belongs to the Retired Teachers Association of North Carolina and to the American Association of Retired Persons. Hodges has taught adult Sunday School classes in the First Baptist Church of Boone for twenty years and has been an assistant in the same class since 1974. She is a life member and past president of the Rhododendron Garden Club, and she has served as secretary of the Watauga Parks and Recreation Commission since its establishment in 1973. Hodges is, as well, a member of the Boone Town Beautification Committee. Hodges is an honorary member of the Blue Ridge Golf Association and of the Blue Ridge Ladies' Golf Association, of which she has been president as well. Hodges' golf prowess is demonstrated by her designation as the club's Winner of First Flight (1968 and 1984), Champion (1975 and 1979), and Hole-in-One Achiever (1970, 1992 and 2002). Hodges was also inducted into the Watauga Sports Hall of Fame on August 19, 2004. In her retirement, Hodges is active with many crafts, including crocheting, oil painting, quilting, latch-hooking rugs, needle-pointing, sewing, knitting, and flower arranging. She also enjoys gardening and participating in garden club activities. Hodges travels extensively, having made trips to Hawaii (1980), Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (1983), California (1984), Europe (1984), and her home state of Louisiana (every year). Now, however, Hodges spends most of her time right here in Boone on the golf course! She has been the ranger, carrying on her cart for the players ice water, pink lemonade, coffee, spiced apple cider, and hot chocolate. Hodges started playing seniors' golf at the age of sixty-five. She won the gold medal in Boone's High Country Senior Golf Tournament in 1991, 1993, and 1994 and won the gold medal in Raleigh in 1993 and 1994. At the National Senior Golf Tournament in Syracuse, New York, in 1991, she won the silver medal in her flight (80-84), and, in June 1993, she won the gold medal in the U.S.A. National Senior Sports Classic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has also won gold medals in San Antonio, Texas (1995), and in Tuscon, Arizona (1997). In the Boone Ladies Club Championship, she was champion in second flight for 1995, 1997, and 1999. Hodges turned ninety-nine years old on July 11, 2008. Due to a hip replacement, she has been unable to play golf. However, she is looking forward to making it to the golf course in the future. Sources: Appalachian State University files, long association, and personal correspondence. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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