Dr. E.D. Hodo: A Steward of the Kingdom

Edward D. Hodo, second president, stands by a brown leather chair in a wood-paneled academic office.
“One of the great privileges in serving as HBU’s President is hearing first-hand how the scholarship program has impacted so many lives.” -E.D. Hodo

Dr. Edward D. Hodo was named second president of then-Houston Baptist University on June 1, 1987. His task was to build on the foundation laid by Dr. William H. Hinton, our first president, and the early generations of donors, students, teachers and administrators. Dr. Hodo was a wise leader and a shrewd, gifted steward of the University’s resources. He guided the University through many challenges, always keeping the long-term health and vision of HCU in mind. Dr. Hodo expanded the University’s evangelical partnerships beyond its Baptist roots, a prefiguring of the name change to Houston Christian University in 2022 and saw HCU named one of America’s “Colleges of Distinction” during his tenure. At a personal level, Dr. Hodo led a Tuesday prayer meeting in Moody Library throughout his presidency and was a Bible study teacher for 60 years.

 

Six men in suits, including HCU’s Second President Edward D. Hodo, hold shovels at a groundbreaking on the HCU campus.

The University’s campus also expanded under Dr. Hodo, who added to the instructional and recreational spaces available to students, faculty, and staff. In 1989, he doubled available space in the Moody Library, and in 1997 the Hinton Academic Center, named in honor of our first president, was dedicated. At the time, the Hinton Center was the largest academic building on campus, and currently houses the Archie W. Dunham College of Business, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, the Dillon Center conference rooms, and many classrooms. Dr. Hodo also oversaw the building of the Eula Mae Baugh Center, the Dunham Family Bible in America Museum (now the Dunham Bible Museum), and the initial construction of the Morris Cultural Arts Center, which would be completed under Dr. Robert B. Sloan.

Students seated in a circle indoors, conversing with books nearby, likely in a group study or academic discussion setting.
“We are thankful for the trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who through prayer and support have invested in the life of Houston Baptist University. And, we are mindful that in only forty years HBU had made an impact on this millennium. We are truly blessed!” – E.D. Hodo

Dr. Hodo reduced faculty teaching loads which freed professors to engage in more research as well as more intentional mentorship toward their students. He also strengthened faculty governance over academic departments and oversaw the introduction of new degree programs: International Business, Entrepreneurship, and Biblical Languages. The Graduate School grew tremendously under Dr. Hodo with the addition of key degrees such as MA in pastoral counseling, MA in psychology and MS degrees in health administration and nursing.

Stewardship is a key theme of Dr. Hodo’s tenure, and he was able to develop shrewd and prescient real estate partnerships that benefit the University today. Dr. Hodo achieved ten straight years of operating surpluses, and secured numerous gifts to help fund campus expansion projects.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Hodo helped HBU athletics transition into the NAIA, where the Huskies were able to compete and win at a high level. HBU won 40 league titles and 35 NAIA national tournaments in its time in the NAIA, and in 1999, women’s basketball was added to the University’s sports offerings with immediate success. They won the first of seven consecutive conference titles. In 2006, the last year of Dr. Hodo’s tenure, HBU received the Red River Athletic Conference All-Sports Excellence Award, which recognized the University’s tremendous success in all its athletic programs.

Edward D. Hodo and four men at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on HCU campus, crowd gathered in the background.
On hand for the Heritage Walk ribbon cutting ceremony are Richard Kanwischer, Don Anderson ’68, Director, Alumni Development; President Doug Hodo; David Stutts ’82, Chairman, HBU Board of Trustees; and Bob Powell ’76 Chair, Heritage Walk Committee.

Another key theme of Dr. Hodo’s tenure was his persistent emphasis on enriching the spiritual life of the University. In addition to the Dunham Family Bible in America Museum, which signaled the central role of Scripture in the University’s identity, Dr. Hodo restructured the University’s Spiritual Life Program and expanded the ways in which students could meet their convocation requirements. Students were encouraged to put their faith into action via mission trips, Bible study attendance, and acts of community service. A robust Student Ministry program was put in place in 1995, featuring FOCUS and REFUGE—the student-led worship teams that still lead worship on campus and around the Houston area today—as well as fine arts-focused ministry teams, a dedicated campus minister and director of student ministries. And, of course, Dr. Hodo led by example by participating in an annual medical mission trip to Mexico alongside students, faculty and staff.

Dr. Hodo retired in 2006. The Hodo Residence College is named in his honor. His tenure at HCU was marked by wise stewardship, unwavering faithfulness in the face of difficult circumstances, and a commitment to deepening the spiritual character of the University. Dr. Hodo took the foundation laid by Dr. Hinton and, with great care and discipline over 20 years, helped the University step into the new millennium as an even stronger, healthier institution.