Friends remember developer’s resolve

Tommy Hodges, the developer of the Otter Creek residential community who helped make Bass Pro Shops and the Gateway Town Center a Little Rock entertainment destination, died Tuesday. He was 77.

Hodges died of respiratory failure after a lengthy illness, said Carol Hodges, his wife of 57 years.

Friends and business partners said the construction of the Otter Creek and Gateway Town Center developments — spread over decades — illustrated the steadfast determination that drove Tommy Hodges through the spectacular ups and downs of the projects.

He first conceived Otter Creek in the 1970s, drawing its inspiration from Maumelle. He then saw the development stall in the 1980s when the primary lender collapsed. He found work in Dallas, signed away his development rights to federal regulators and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

He returned in 1994 and with partners Jim Keet, Harry Aburrow and Mike Flynn, restarted the Otter Creek development and eventually planned what is now the nearby Gateway Town Center, a 177-acre development at Interstates 30 and 430.

“I would kid him that when we finally got Gateway going, call it our 20-year overnight success,” Keet recalled Tuesday. “If you look at the entire history, he demonstrated such skill, tenacity, endurance and commitment throughout that time to do some really exceptional things in Arkansas and other states. He will be missed.”

Gateway is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, the Outlets of Little Rock shopping center, Dave & Busters, a Movie Tavern and a Harley-Davidson dealership, among other outlets. He wasn’t done, either. The Gateway Town Center website lists the Gateway Woods Apartments, a 250-unit complex, as “to-be-constructed.”

“Perseverance — sometimes that wins out when it’s all you got,” Hodges once said.

Hodges was born in Dallas on Sept. 1, 1942. His family moved to North Little Rock, where one of his childhood friends was Jerry Jones, now the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. During his time in Dallas, Hodges was president of the Texas Stadium Corp., which managed the Cowboys’ home field.

In his late teens, his family moved to Hot Springs, where he graduated from high school in 1960. He went on to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees, the latter in planning, from the University of Arkansas and the University of Oklahoma.

Hodges gave long-time Little Rock developer Jimmy Moses his first job.

Moses credits Hodges with sparking what turned out to be a career developing Little Rock, projects that include the River Market entertainment district and other landmark redevelopments.

“He was such a dynamic, impressive guy and told me that if I would come back to Little Rock, it would give me a great way to get involved in the community and eventually give me an opportunity to work to build our city. And of course he was right, and I am very fortunate to not only to have taken his advice but also learn under him for four years, early in my career.”

Moses and others expressed admiration for Hodges’ holding on to his dreams for Otter Creek, which Hodges originally established in 1973 as a tennis community. It has grown to encompass nearly 1,100 homes and millions of dollars in ancillary commercial development.

“When many would and did throw in the towel, Tommy found another way to rebound and put together a second career,” Moses said. “He returned to Little Rock and became even more successful not only as a business person but more importantly, as a leader and mentor in our town.”

He had other qualities, not the least of which was loyalty, that endeared him to a wide range of friends outside of business.

Mack Moore, a retired urologist in Little Rock, has known Hodges for more than 50 years, and they played golf regularly.

“He was one of the most loyal friends a person could have,” Moore said. “He had such a positive attitude all of his life in both good times and bad, and he had a resiliency that was unusual. You couldn’t get him down, and he had as many friends as anybody I know.”

They both belonged to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Arkansas.

“He worked tirelessly to renovate the fraternity house at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville,” Moore recalled. “He was chairperson of that renovation, and without Tommy’s tireless work, it would have never happened.”

Among his oldest friends was Mickey Miller, who at 78 still works as a business consultant. He and Hodges met at Hot Springs High School in 1958.

“We stayed up with each other because of our friendship,” Miller said. “It really doesn’t make any difference where our paths have taken us over the years. We’ve always stayed in touch; we’ve always visited with each [other].

“Tommy is just a good friend. He applies himself at friendships, and I’ve been a great admirer of his. I still am. Just a neat guy. My life was better because he was my friend.”

Bill Dillard, president and chief executive officer of Dillard’s Inc., the Little Rockbased department store chain, has counted Hodges among his closest friends since their fraternity days at the university.

In their early years, Hodges taught Dillard’s children how to water ski. They regularly played golf, and they took driving trips across the country with their wives. In recent years, Hodges hosted Dillard and other friends to watch the Super Bowl.

“Tommy always cooked the steaks at halftime,” Dillard said. “I bragged on Tommy’s steaks. He cooked the best steaks in town.”

Through it all, Hodges was his friend.

“It’s hard to tell you what a big hole he’s left in my life,” Dillard said.