Dean E. Hodge, PhD
August 18, 1927 – August 2, 2013
The Missouri Horse Shows Association and the entire equine community lost a valued friend and supporter on August 2, with the passing of past president and long-time board member Dean Hodge.
Dr. Hodge also was the founding president of the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show and served two tours as head of that board. He remained a member of that board at the time of his death. Dean was known as “Mr. St. Louis Charity Horse Show” all over the state for his tireless advocacy for both the Saddlebred and Hunter/Jumper shows and for his tenacious fundraising.
During his long tenure with Ralston Purina, Dr. Hodge directed the food animal feed division and was nationally-recognized in that field. His specialty and his PhD from Purdue University was in cattle feeding. No doubt this came from his upbringing on a small Indiana livestock farm which he and his mother ran from the time his father died when young Dean was only seven years old.
MHSA honored him with the Jeff Shikles Distinguished Service and Lifetime Achievement Award and the President’s Award. He was also a member of the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show Hall of Fame and a recipient of that show’s prestigious August A. Busch Award.
Among his and our favorite memories is seeing Dean at Saddlebred and Combined Training events around Missouri walking along behind his daughter Elizabeth Hoffman and her horse, with his ever-present grooming bucket.
His wise counsel and dry wit will be missed by all. We were lucky to have him as long as we did.
