Derek Hodge
Encyclopedia
Derek M. Hodge was a U.S. Virgin Islander politician
and lawyer
. Hodge served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
for two terms from 1987 to 1995 under Governor Alexander Farrelly. The Virgin Islands Daily News called him a "towering figure in local politics," referring to his political career, which spanned several decades.
He was raised in the Crucian town of Frederiksted and attended elementary school on the island. Hodge attended high school at Colegio San Justo on the neighboring island of Puerto Rico
, where he graduated as class valedictorian
and acquired a fluency in Spanish
.
Hodge received a bachelor's degree
in political science
in 1963 from Michigan State University
. As an undergrad at Michigan State, Hodge formed a steel band called the Bamboushay Steel Band consisting of himself, Ariel Melchior Jr. (the future publisher of the Virgin Islands Daily News) and his brother, Winston Hodge. Following his graduation from Michigan State in 1963, worked as a teacher at schools in New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including Brooklyn College
, Elena Christian Junior High School in Saint Croix and the College of the Virgin Islands. In 1966, Hodge competed as a center basketball
player at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games
in San Juan
with the U.S. Virgin Islands basketball team.
He earned a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center
in Washington D.C. in 1971.
, Hodge, Sheen and Finch. He became active in local politics and was elected the St. Croix District Chairman of the Democratic Party in 1974. He remained a lifelong Democrat.
In 1982, Hodge ran for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands as a Democrat, but without the official endorsement of the Democratic Party. He lost the election. (Governor Juan Francisco Luis
won re-election for a second term in a five-candidate gubernatorial race. Hodge then served as the President of the Virgin Islands Bar Association
shortly before his election to the legislature in 1984.
Hodge attempted a successful political comeback in 1984, when he was elected as a Senator to the 16th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
. He won the most votes in the Senate race on Saint Croix. Hodge's colleagues in the Legislature elected him President of the Virgin Islands Legislature during his freshman term in office, from 1985 to 1986.
In 1986, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alexander Farrelly persuaded Hodge to leave the Senate and become his running mate for lieutenant governor
in the election. Farrelly and Hodge defeated the Republican Julio Brady
and won the election in November 1986. They were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands on January 5, 1987. Both were re-elected to a second term in 1990, defeating former Virgin Islands Governor Juan Francisco Luis
.
Lt. Governor Hodge and former Delegate Ron de Lugo
collaborated to obtain $20 million in federal funding for Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Saint Croix. According to Governor John de Jongh, Hodge also worked to restore a good bond rating for the U.S. Virgin Islands government, which allowed $230 million in bonds to become available for the Virgin Islands' Capital Improvement Program. Hodge is also remembered for lobbying for federal emergency funds to rebuild after Hurricane Hugo
struck Saint Croix in 1989, devstating the island's buildings and infrastructure.
Governor Farrelly was term limited in 1994 and could not seek a consecutive third term. Lt. Governor Derek Hodge announced his candidacy for Governor in 1994 with the full endorsement
of the Democratic Party and chose Alfred O. Heath as his running mate
for lieutenant governor. Hodge was defeated in a special gubernatorial runoff election held on November 22, 1994, by the independent ticket of Roy Schneider, and his running mate, Kenneth Mapp
. Hodge left office on January 2, 1995, when Schneider and Mapp were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor.
for former Governor Alexander Farrelly in Washington D.C.
Derek Hodge died of cancer on May 31, 2011, at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife, Monique Sibilly-Hodge; two children, Marisol Cohen and Jonathan Hodge; his sister, Coleen Hodge; two brothers; and three grandchildren, Olivia, Malachai and Hadassah. He was preceded in death by his brother, Winston Hodge, and his parents.
Hodge was laid in state at Government House on Saint Thomas
on June 8, followed by a memorial service
held at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of All Saints in Charlotte Amalie
. He was the flown to Christiansted, where he was laid in state on Saint Croix's Government House as well.
Hodge's funeral was held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Christiansted on June 10, 2011. He was buried at Frederiksted Cemetery with honors provided by the Virgin Islands National Guard
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Hodge served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
The following is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.*David Earle Maas - Republican...
for two terms from 1987 to 1995 under Governor Alexander Farrelly. The Virgin Islands Daily News called him a "towering figure in local politics," referring to his political career, which spanned several decades.
Early life
Derek Hodge was born on October 5, 1941, on the island of Saint Croix to parents, Rexford Hodge and Enid Kettle Hodge. He had three brothers - Winston Hodge, Rupert Ross Jr. and James Ross. Hodge was a cousin of Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, the Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis.He was raised in the Crucian town of Frederiksted and attended elementary school on the island. Hodge attended high school at Colegio San Justo on the neighboring island of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where he graduated as class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and acquired a fluency in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Hodge received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1963 from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. As an undergrad at Michigan State, Hodge formed a steel band called the Bamboushay Steel Band consisting of himself, Ariel Melchior Jr. (the future publisher of the Virgin Islands Daily News) and his brother, Winston Hodge. Following his graduation from Michigan State in 1963, worked as a teacher at schools in New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, Elena Christian Junior High School in Saint Croix and the College of the Virgin Islands. In 1966, Hodge competed as a center basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games
1966 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 10th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 11 to July 25, 1966. These games were one of the largest ever with a total number of 1.689 athletes from eighteen participating nations.-References:...
in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
with the U.S. Virgin Islands basketball team.
He earned a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in Washington D.C. in 1971.
Political career
Hodge moved back to Saint Croix in 1972 and joined his brother's law firmLaw firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
, Hodge, Sheen and Finch. He became active in local politics and was elected the St. Croix District Chairman of the Democratic Party in 1974. He remained a lifelong Democrat.
In 1982, Hodge ran for Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands as a Democrat, but without the official endorsement of the Democratic Party. He lost the election. (Governor Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis was a U.S. Virgin Island politician who served as the third elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory's 23rd Governor overall. Luis assumed the governorship on January 2, 1978, succeeding Governor Cyril King, who died in office...
won re-election for a second term in a five-candidate gubernatorial race. Hodge then served as the President of the Virgin Islands Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
shortly before his election to the legislature in 1984.
Hodge attempted a successful political comeback in 1984, when he was elected as a Senator to the 16th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of 15 senators, elected to two-year terms without term limits. The territorial...
. He won the most votes in the Senate race on Saint Croix. Hodge's colleagues in the Legislature elected him President of the Virgin Islands Legislature during his freshman term in office, from 1985 to 1986.
In 1986, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alexander Farrelly persuaded Hodge to leave the Senate and become his running mate for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
in the election. Farrelly and Hodge defeated the Republican Julio Brady
Julio Brady
Julio A. Brady is a U.S. Virgin Islander judge, politician and attorney. Brady served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1983 to 1987 during the second term of former Governor Juan Francisco Luis. Brady has served as a U.S...
and won the election in November 1986. They were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands on January 5, 1987. Both were re-elected to a second term in 1990, defeating former Virgin Islands Governor Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis
Juan Francisco Luis was a U.S. Virgin Island politician who served as the third elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the territory's 23rd Governor overall. Luis assumed the governorship on January 2, 1978, succeeding Governor Cyril King, who died in office...
.
Lt. Governor Hodge and former Delegate Ron de Lugo
Ron de Lugo
Ron de Lugo was the first Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. His fathers parents were Puerto Ricans his grandfather owned a hardware store and gun dealership in Charlotte Amale, St. Thomas. His parents though living in New Jersey at the...
collaborated to obtain $20 million in federal funding for Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Saint Croix. According to Governor John de Jongh, Hodge also worked to restore a good bond rating for the U.S. Virgin Islands government, which allowed $230 million in bonds to become available for the Virgin Islands' Capital Improvement Program. Hodge is also remembered for lobbying for federal emergency funds to rebuild after Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
struck Saint Croix in 1989, devstating the island's buildings and infrastructure.
Governor Farrelly was term limited in 1994 and could not seek a consecutive third term. Lt. Governor Derek Hodge announced his candidacy for Governor in 1994 with the full endorsement
Endorsement
Endorsement may refer to:*Testimonial in advertising, written or spoken statement endorsing a product*Political endorsement*a form added to an insurance policy, modifying the terms...
of the Democratic Party and chose Alfred O. Heath as his running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
for lieutenant governor. Hodge was defeated in a special gubernatorial runoff election held on November 22, 1994, by the independent ticket of Roy Schneider, and his running mate, Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth E. Mapp is a United States Virgin Islanders politician. A former Virgin Islands Senator, Mapp served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1995 until 1999. Most recently, Mapp was an independent candidate for Governor of the U.S...
. Hodge left office on January 2, 1995, when Schneider and Mapp were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor.
Later life
Hodge and his cousin, Kathleen Mackay, opened a private law firm after he left office in 1995. In 2002, Hodge delivered the eulogyEulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
for former Governor Alexander Farrelly in Washington D.C.
Derek Hodge died of cancer on May 31, 2011, at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife, Monique Sibilly-Hodge; two children, Marisol Cohen and Jonathan Hodge; his sister, Coleen Hodge; two brothers; and three grandchildren, Olivia, Malachai and Hadassah. He was preceded in death by his brother, Winston Hodge, and his parents.
Hodge was laid in state at Government House on Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
on June 8, followed by a memorial service
Memorial service
Memorial service is often used to describe a secular or non-religious funeral. A funeral is a religious service that is held with or without the body of the deceased present...
held at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of All Saints in Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie may refer to:*Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel , a queen-consort of Denmark and Norway*Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands, the capital city, which was named after the queen-consort...
. He was the flown to Christiansted, where he was laid in state on Saint Croix's Government House as well.
Hodge's funeral was held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Christiansted on June 10, 2011. He was buried at Frederiksted Cemetery with honors provided by the Virgin Islands National Guard
Virgin Islands National Guard
The U.S. Virgin Islands National Guard consists of the:*Virgin Islands Army National Guard *Virgin Islands Air National Guard ** 285th Combat Communications Squadron...
.