Harold Hampton Hodges
December 20, 1937 – May 22, 2025
Tarrant, Texas – Hamp Hodges died peacefully on May 22, 2025, at the age of 87 years. He will be remembered as a man devoted to his family and his country. He had a quick wit and joked with everyone. His smile and charm would light up any room.
Hamp was born in Paris, Texas on December 20, 1937, to Harold and Hazel Hodges. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the shortest possible time. He played football at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was a proud member of the class of 1961. After graduation, Hamp married Elizabeth “Buffy” Graham and together they reared four daughters. When asked why he had only daughters, Hamp loved to say that: “God sends a man where one is needed, and the rest of us get girls.”
He served in battle in Vietnam as an artillery officer and was Airborne and Ranger qualified. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, one Air Medal and two Army Commendation Medals. He achieved the rank of Major before resigning from the Army in 1969 to pursue a career in oil & gas and real estate development. He developed shopping centers in Houston, Dallas Los Angeles and Fort Worth. He founded Buffton Oil & Gas, Inc. in Midland, moved the company to Fort Worth, and took it public. In 1985, Hamp was honored to be named one of the top ten CEOs of small public companies in the U.S. He remained a director for many years as Buffton transitioned to BFX Hospitality (American Stock Exchange symbol BFX).
Hamp and Buffy returned to Paris and enjoyed living on a small ranch across from the County Club. He ran for Congress in the 1st Congressional District in Northeast Texas and later ran for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. When addressing the Texas Republican State Convention in 1990, Hamp held aloft a big yellow Labrador retriever to illustrate a point. He was proud of his role as Governor of Texas, even if it was in the Paris Community Theatre production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
As a lifelong Methodist, Hamp took great joy in teaching youth Sunday School classes and following the lives of his students.
After 37 years of marriage, cancer took Buffy in 1999. Hamp married Vicki Oglesby and gained a teenage son, who later went to the U.S. Naval Academy and sparked a friendly Army-Navy family rivalry.
Hamp and Vicki moved to Rhode Island for a few years to oversee the redevelopment of his historic textile mill property. The mill was opened in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln to make Civil War uniforms. Hamp brought the property back to life as a residential, retail, office and hotel complex.
Hamp was also preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marthanne Hodges Luzader. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Hodges; daughters Elizabeth “Muffy” Watson (Wayne) of Abilene, Elsie Hodges Gordon (David) of Manhattan Beach, California, Holly Hodges Howe (Craig USMA ’87) of Plano, Harolyn Hodges of Fort Worth, and son Brent Oglesby USNA ’07 (Dulce) of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren Taylor Graham Howe (Chandler), Graham Hampton Watson, James Hodges Watson, Jake Hodges Gordon, Alexandria “Alex” de Russy, Hayden Elizabeth Howe, Max Buffton Gordon, and Gabriel Leite Oglesby; brother George Ingram “G.I.” Hodges; nieces Lucy Bronfman and Priscilla Pipho, nephew Moss Luzader; and other beloved family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 27th at First United Methodist Church in Paris. Texas. with Rev. Barbara Marcum officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM at the church , followed by the service at 11:30 AM. A reception will be held in the fellowship hall after the service. Burial will be at 2:00 PM at Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jake Gordon, Max Gordon, Taylor Howe, Brent Oglesby, Graham Watson, and James Watson.
Online condolences may be sent to the Hodges family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com
