Uncrowned Community Builders

Clemmon Howe Hodges was born on October 27, 1927 in Starkville, Mississippi. His parents were Samuel and Sally Lou Hodges. As a young man, Clem was interested in philosophy and religious studies. It was his desire to help improve the quality of life for mankind. This was reflected in his choice of profession, church and community activities.

Prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Clem served in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt established a presidential directive giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. These African Americans were not sent to the traditional boot camps, but instead were segregated and sent to basic training at Montford Point in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Clemmon Hodges was among this group of approximately 20,000 Black men who served honorably in World War II. Hodges also served in the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve until 1952. On June 27, 2012, the Congressional Medal of Honor was presented to the Montford Point Marines. Hodges was honored posthumously among the 390 African Americans who fought against tyranny and oppression overseas in World War II and fought against segregation and bigotry at home. Hodges served active duty from 1942 to 1946.

His life was greatly influence by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, president of Morehouse College and Langston Hughes, poet, writer and editor of the Phylon, with whom he worked while a student. Later, Clem earned a Master of Arts degree in social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo and had a distinguished professional career.

Clem was employed at Buffalo Veterans Administration Hospital and Church Mission of Help. He retired in 1986 from the Veterans Administration Medical Center of Batavia and Rochester where he served ten years as Director of Social Work Service. Clem was chairman of the New York State Board of Social Work; president of Living Opportunities of Western New York; vice president of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County; member of the Boards of Directors of the American Red Cross, the NAACP Buffalo Chapter and the Erie County Medical Center. He was also vice president and treasurer of 1490 Enterprises, Inc. After retirement, Clem continued part-time employment as Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo.

He was involved in a variety of community activities which included organizing member of BUILD, Inc., Humboldt and Delavan Community Interest League, the Brunswick Boulevard Block Club, Housing Opportunities Made Equal and Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Clem received numerous awards for community service which included the National Association of Social Workers Award for Community Service, the Buffalo Urban League Family Life Award, 1490 Enterprises Twentieth Anniversary Award for Community Service and the Western New York Chapter of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award. Always interested in assisting youth in the community by offering them educational and vocational counseling, Clem served as a role model for many persons, particularly males in his church and community-wide.

Clem was a very committed Christian man as evidenced by his faithful service of over fifty year's membership with the First Shiloh Baptist Church where he was instrumental in developing the first Christian Education Release Time Program. He served as a Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent of the Sunday School, Director of Christian Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Clem served as an officer and director of local and state boards including: vice president of the American Baptist Churches of the Niagara Frontier; the Council of Churches of Buffalo and Erie County; President of Laymenââ?¬â?¢s Department, Empire State Baptist Deacons Alliance; and the Western New York Baptist Bookstore. He was also president of the First Shiloh Housing Corporation. In this position, he was the leader and driving force for the corporation's partnership with the Ellicott Mall Partnership which resulted in the renovation of mid-rise apartment buildings and construction of townhouses and senior patio homes in Buffalo's Ellicott District.