[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOHNNIE HODGES, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2022

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor World 
War II Navy Veteran, and a friend of Buffalo, the late Johnnie Hodges, 
Sr. Hodges who served as a light of inspiration to his local community, 
and I am proud to bring recognition to his life and legacy today.
  Mr. Hodges was a trailblazer. He began his service with the United 
States Navy on January 8, 1944 and following training in Bainbridge, 
Maryland, was stationed aboard the USS General Harry Taylor. Hodges 
served as a Stewards Mate Third Class on the troop transport ship 
during World War II, taking part in missions across the Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans until his honorable discharge on June 17, 1946. His 
participation, along with many other African Americans in the Armed 
Forces, led to the desegregation of the military and planted the seeds 
for Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He was also the first 
ever African American Foreman at Bethlehem Steel, a mill which was once 
the second largest producer of iron in the United States. In addition 
to his work at Bethlel Steel for 35 years, his wife, Flora, and he were 
entrepreneurs, owning a successful delicatessen.
  Johnnie was known for his kindness which never went unrecognized by 
those around him. When he came back from serving our great country 
during World War II, he raised 6 children with his wife Flora. Johnnie 
was known to always be helping others, from teaching teenagers how to 
fix their cars, to helping a young neighbor with his newspaper route. 
Johnnie also served his local community by working as a bus driver for 
Buffalo for 25 years. When he had fallen behind in mortgage payments as 
he was caring for his sick wife and was eventually evicted from his 
home, the local community rallied in support of Johnnie, and raised 
over 100,000 dollars in less than 24 hours to send Johnnie back to his 
home. This generosity by family, friends, and strangers, is a true 
testament to the kind of man Johnnie was, and his lifetime of kindness 
was quickly repaid when he was in a time of need. These actions also 
demonstrated why Buffalo is known as the ``City of Good Neighbors.''
  Madam Speaker, please join me to bring recognition to such a 
significant member of the Buffalo community. It is an honor to be able 
to recognize Johnnie Hodges, Sr. today. He helped to make our world a 
better place with his participation in World War II which strengthened 
our democracy and freedom, and our community a better place by being a 
true pillar of service and sacrifice. All those who were lucky enough 
to have known him will greatly miss his generous spirit and forever 
remember his lasting legacy of kindness.

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