[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8623]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE DEREK M. HODGE, FORMER LT. GOVERNOR OF 
                        THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise to 
pay tribute to a lifelong friend and political colleague from my 
district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, our former Lt. Governor and 
President of the 16th Legislature, the Honorable Derek Michael Hodge 
who passed away on May 31, 2011 after a lengthy illness.
  Mr. Speaker, Derek Michael Hodge is being eulogized as a ``man of 
integrity and enthusiasm, a brilliant attorney and politician,'' and I 
can testify that this is true of the man who spent his adult life 
serving his community in the public and private sector. After higher 
education at Michigan State University and Georgetown University Law 
Center, he returned to the Virgin Islands in 1972 and joined his 
brother's law firm, the legendary Hodge, Sheen and Finch. He entered 
the world of elective politics in 1974 and became District Chairman of 
the Democratic Party. He first ran for governor in 1982, and though 
unsuccessful, it was seen as a win for all of us who worked for him as 
it gave the Virgin Islands electorate a glimpse of his ideas and his 
intellect. Never one to give up, he successfully became the top vote 
getter in the race for the Virgin Islands Legislature in 1984. Although 
a freshman, his colleagues recognized his political and legal acumen, 
and elected him President of the 16th Legislature of the Virgin 
Islands. His skill and his love of the Virgin Islands was recognized by 
the late Governor Alexander Farrelly and he tapped Derek to be his Lt. 
Governor, a post that he held for eight years and to which he brought 
professionalism, innovation, efficiency and accountability. As Lt. 
Governor, he spearheaded efforts to improve the territory's 
infrastructure, improving the airport, health care facilities, and 
hazard mitigation projects. As Lt. Governor, Derek served as the 
territory's Commissioner of Insurance, Chairman of the Banking Board, 
Overseer of the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, Tax Assessor's Office 
and Corporations Division. He has been credited with reestablishing the 
territory's bond rating in the municipal bond market which bolstered 
the Virgin Islands capital improvement program. Throughout his 
lifetime, Derek wore many other hats, to include college professor, 
center on the Virgin Islands national basketball team, and President of 
the Virgin Islands Bar. His life was one of commitment to his beloved 
Virgin Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, Derek's passing is a personal loss for me. He was ``like 
a big brother,'' as we grew up together in St. Croix and were political 
allies and friends who worked on many issues and campaigns together 
including each other's campaigns for office. I will miss his 
friendship, his counsel and most of all his sense of humor which could 
soothe and tickle as well as sting. I extend my condolences to his wife 
Monique, his children Marisol and Jonathan and the wider circle of his 
family and many friends. Derek lived with passion and integrity. His 
days among us were well spent and while we will sorely miss him, there 
are many memories that will make us smile, laugh and be glad that we 
are among the fortunate ones whose lives he touched along the way. May 
he rest in God's comfort and peace.

                          ____________________