The Radford Parks and Recreation Department has designated July 27, 2024 the Joe and Betty Jo Hodge Memorial Fund Day.
The special day will include free clinics for both boys and girls conducted by Rance Mulliniks, a 15-year veteran in the major league and a current member of Toronto Blue Jays Hall of Fame.
The day will conclude with a barbeque banquet at the Recreation Center with auction items and a presentation from Rance. Joe and Betty Jo Hodge left lasting memories on hundreds of men and women who knew them and participated in Radford sports.
Both of them dedicated their entire life to all sports activities and demonstrated total self-giving to their community. Along with honoring the legacy of Joe and Betty Jo, we hope to raise funds to be used for equipment purchases for those less fortunate but have a desire to participate as well as continue with the upkeep, maintenance, and repairs as needed to the Joe Hodge Little League Field.
The day will begin with a free baseball/softball clinic on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The clinics will be offered for both boys and girls, ages 8-10 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and ages 11-13 from 1-3 p.m. Both clinics will be held at Joe Hodge Little League Field in Radford. The field is located at 1014 Pendleton Street in Radford.
The day will conclude the evening with a fundraising event being held at the Radford Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m. This event is to help raise money for the Joe and Betty Jo Hodge Memorial Fund. A barbecue dinner is planned with the cost being $20 per person. Pre-registration is required by July 17 for anyone wishing to attend the evening event.
Pre-register by calling the Radford Recreation Department at 540-731-3633.
During this dinner event there will also be a silent auction featuring a lot of sports paraphernalia. Joe and Betty Jo were employees of Radford Parks and Recreation for over 28 years. Joe supervised youth sports for the boys (baseball, football, and basketball). He also coached many of these teams during his long career.
Many people that lived in Radford remember the Shark Club Baseball Team that he coached during the summers from the mid ‘50’s until 1978. Joe was a very kind, loving man that always wanted to help the youth in Radford.
During his career his kindness would always consist of spending time with and talking to kids that needed a friendly ear; he was always available to talk with them or just lend an ear when they needed someone to listen to them.
Radford Rec Director Greg Holbrook said on many occasions Joe helped kids get something to eat before or after their games. Joe was also known for helping the youth with rides to and from their games.
Joe served his country in the United States Army and was a Veteran of the Korean War. Anybody that knew Joe loved and respected him for his service to his country and his devotion to the youth of Radford.
These individuals have many great stories, acts of kindness, and special memories of him to this day.
Betty Jo ran the girls’ youth sports program, women’s programs, and the summer youth playgrounds at all our parks. She was made out of the same cloth as Joe. She was kind and loving to the girls and always wanted to help them any way she could.
Holbrook said Joe was also over all the maintenance of Radford’s parks and ball fields as well as the supervisor of the high school summer park aides.
He, along with Public Works and many friends and volunteers built the Joe Hodge Little League Field in the early ‘70’s. To this day teams from all over the New River Valley enjoy coming to Radford and playing on our “Field of Dreams.”
The clinic will be conducted by former major league baseball player of the California Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays, Rance Mulliniks.
Rance played in the major leagues from 1977-1992. He is a Hall of Fame member of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the Rookie of the Year for the California Angels in 1977. He had a team high batting average for the Blue Jays in 1984 and 1988 (.324 and .300).
During the clinic Rance and coaches will conduct sessions on hitting, infield, and outfield. The last part of the clinic is a Q&A session.
For those that cannot attend the evening event but would like to make a donation, you may do so by either mailing or dropping off your donation to the Radford Recreation Department, 200 George Street, Radford, VA 24141.
Please make all checks payable to Radford Recreation Department, earmarked “Memory of Joe and Betty Jo Hodge”.
For more information on any of the events planned for the day, please contact Greg Holbrook at 540-731-3633 or email greg.holbrook@radfordva.gov.
Radford Parks and Recreation Department