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.