Dr. Louis Hodges

Dr. Louis Hodges was born in Houston, Texas, on January 21, 1943, and passed, surrounded in love with his wife and daughters by his side, on August 16, 2025.

He was predeceased by his parents, Lee and Leone Hodges, and his siblings, Laurent, Lucille, and Lee. He is survived by his loving wife, Nini; his daughters, Rachelle, Danielle, and Gabrielle; and by his sons-in-law, Don Fuller and Evan Coulson. Louis is further survived by his grandchildren, Glo Toupence, Wesley Toupence, Aden Miller, and Ava Miller, who brought him great joy.

Louis was a gentle and humble man—soft-spoken, thoughtful, and kind. He was a remarkable listener, revered mentor, and a devoted husband and father with the noble heart of a cowboy. He will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.

Louis’s education began at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Houston and continued through Lamar High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Rice University and his doctorate from Texas A&M University in College Station. It was there that he began his remarkable 53-year career in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences, retiring in 2021.

From a young age, Louis embodied a spirit of service and integrity. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was a proud member of the Order of the Arrow in the Boy Scouts of America—honors that reflected the values he carried throughout his life. He spent additional years of dedicated service with Camp Ondessonk in Ozark, Illinois, and was awarded the honor of the Order of Saint Rene Goupil for his commitment and contributions.

Deeply committed to his community, Louis served on the College Station Park Board, the Historical Preservation Committee, and the Veterans Park “Never Forget” Garden Committee. He loved history and took part in historical reenactments at Boonville Days, Washington-on-the-Brazos, and with a group of cannon enthusiasts. He was active with the local garden club and spent many joyful years as a volunteer at Camp Howdy with the Girl Scouts, where he was a lifelong supporter—truly a “Girl’s Dad.”

Faith played a central role in Louis’s life. He was a founding member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where he served invarious roles, including Eucharistic Minister, sound technician, volunteer for Aquinas Fest, helper at the yearly garage sale, and an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

A man of many interests, Louis found joy in gardening, leathertooling, history, coin collecting (Roman and American), and woodworking—crafting walking sticks and cedar crosses that he often gave as gifts. He was also famous for his creative homemade jellies, with flavors such as grape and bourbon, mesquite and tequila, rum and plum, and cranberry—and nearly anything else he could cook down to juice.

The influence Louis had on his community, the University, and, most of all, the lives of those he touched cannot be easily captured in words. His life was rich in meaning—memorable, unconventional, and guided by both intellect and heart. As one of his close friends and colleagues shared, he was a Good Man—and there are far too few of those in the world.

A Celebration of Life, honoring Louis will be held on Friday, November 7, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center in Bryan. This will be a comfortable, non-traditional gathering to celebrate who Louis was and the many ways he will be remembered.

The family would like to thank Traditions Home Health Care and Hospice for the wonderful care they provided to Louis over the past few months.

In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or donating to Camp Ondessonk's Camper Scholarship Fund which provides access to children in poverty with an opportunity to experience God's healing love immersed in the awe-inspiring natural world He created for us.