KMEA Hall of Fame
Wendell L. Hodges
Inducted in 1989
Wendell L. Hodges grew up in Greensburg, Kansas. His college work was interrupted by service in the Army Air Corps, after which he completed a bachelor's degree in music education at Southwestern College. He later earned a master's degree from Wichita State University. After teaching vocal and instrumental music in Atlanta and Little River, he moved to Anthony, where he taught for twenty years. When the Anthony and Harper schools combined to form the Chaparral High School, he became director of instrumental music there until his retirement in 1987. Hodges has been involved with the Lions State and International Band since 1952. He has served as president of KMEA District VI, the first state band chair of KMEA, president and executive secretary of the Kansas Band Masters Association, and Kansas chair of the American School Band Directors Association.