J. Thomas Hodson, 79, of El Paso, Texas, passed away on Friday, May 20th, his family at his bedside. Tom was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Marvel A. Bohner Hodson and Richard J. Hodson, and spent his early years in Huntington, IN.
A Deming resident since 1947, Tom graduated from Deming High School in 1955. He attended N.M. Military Institute in Roswell, excelling in sports. His 9.5-second record in the 100-yard dash at NMMI still stands. Following his 1957 graduation from NMMI he was awarded a track scholarship to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. While there, he and his team won many national track events, as well as at the British Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He later transferred to NM Highlands University, graduating in 1960. He was a Captain in the United States Army, serving active duty at Ft. Eustis, Virginia during the Berlin Wall Crisis.
Tom was involved in several businesses in Deming, Albuquerque, and El Paso. He served as Vice President and CEO of the Auburn Rubber Company in Deming for several years. While in El Paso, he created, built, and was the leading partner in Classic American Homes, El Paso's largest home builder. In 1994, he retired to Cape Coral, Florida, enjoying boating, beaches, and the many other outdoor activities available in southwest Florida. In 2008 he returned to live in El Paso to enjoy the company of family and friends.
He is survived by wife, Diane; brother, John, of Cape Coral FL; 7 children: Merri Johnson and husband, Gregory, of Albuquerque; Richard of Rio Rancho; Kathryn of Deming; Derek of Raleigh NC; Jason and wife, Heather, of North Ft. Meyers, FL; Samira Franco and husband, Larry, of Houston, TX; and Erin of El Paso. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and a niece and nephew of Florida.
Tom's father preceded him in death in 1989, and his mother in 1999.
The family will gather for a private graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery in Deming where Tom will be interred in the family plot next to his parents.