A Lasting Legacy: University Remembers Alumnus Kaneaster Hodges Jr.

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The Hon. Kaneaster Hodges Jr.

The Hon. Kaneaster Hodges Jr., a devoted public servant and long-time friend of the U of A, passed away March 23, 2022, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Lindley Williams Hodges.

A native of Newport and 1967 graduate of the School of Law, Hodges was named editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Law Review. Following graduation, he practiced law with his father and brother and served as the Newport City Attorney and the Jackson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.

Hodges also served as a civil rights advocate, pastor and prison chaplain. In 1975, he was legislative secretary to Gov. David Pryor and was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1977 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John J. McClellan. He was chairman of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

“Kaneaster Hodges Jr. lived a life of public service second to none. He was an individual who worked tirelessly to make a difference for his community and the state of Arkansas, someone who taught us all the value of investing our talents for the benefit of others,” said Charles Robinson, interim chancellor. “His leadership and sense of possibility will be deeply missed, and at the University of Arkansas, we are grateful to have shared in his life. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Kaneaster and Lindley Hodges have always shown a strong committment to the support of cultural events, excellence in academics and prison education initiatives throughout Arkansas.

Their active support was also recognized by a gift of $825,000 from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, which established the Kaneaster and Ruth Lindley Hodges Entrepreneurial Fellowship Award. The award offers a stipend level that is competitive with the most prestigious fellowships available to graduate students and enhances the work as part of the Graduate Entrepreneurial Fellows Program.

In 2005, the University Libraries dedicated the Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. Reading Room in Mullins Library, with the support of a gift from Pat and John A. Cooper Jr. of Bella Vista. The naming recognized the work of Kaneaster Hodges Jr. to the state of Arkansas and to the university through his service on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and Executive Committee of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century and as chair of the Library subcommittee.

Hodges Jr. was former president and board member of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. He also served on the Pryor Center Advisory Board, the university’s Board of Advisors, the Northeast Arkansas Higher Education Charitable Foundation and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the School of Law, a member of the Towers of Old Main giving society, named Volunteer of the Year in 1991 by the university and was chair and member of the U of A Board of Trustees.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.