Matthew Merle Hodnett passed from death unto life September 18, 2013 after an extended illness. He was born in LaGrange, GA on September 22, 1934. Hodnett graduated Lagrange High School, attended University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Woodrow Wilson College of Law, Lockheed-Emory Management Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Executive Management Program, Lockheed Senior Management Institute, and the Lockheed Executive Institute.
Hodnett served on the Board of Directors for the Lockheed Credit Union, the Board of Directors of Lockheed Support Services Inc. Arlington, Texas, a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity, National Contract Management Association, and Aerospace Industries Association as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Spare Parts Committee, Society of Logistics Engineers, Navy League, and the National Management Association.
Matt Hodnett joined Lockheed at the Marietta Georgia Plant in 1955 as an assembly helper, and after 33 years services was responsible for the total worldwide support of Lockheed’s Transport Aircraft including the C-130 Hercules, Jet Star, and C141 & C5 Galaxy.
In June of 1988 Matt Hodnett was named President of Lockheed Aeromod Center in Greenville, SC. Hodnett was instrumental in guiding the company through further expansion having bought and won Lockheed Corporations approved to open a new commercial maintenance facility in Tucson, Arizona. The new $25 Million dollar corporation opened December 1991, and employed more than 1700 employees. He was an active member in the Greenville, SC community where he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greenville SC Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Greenville Technology College School of Aircraft Maintenance Technology, a member of the Greenville Technology College Founders Board of Directors, and a member of the Freedom Weekend Aloft Board of Directors.
In 1993, Hodnett retired to his country home with his wife of 58 years Sandra McGuire Hodnett in Pine Mountain, GA. Matthew Hodnett is survived by his wife Sandra McGuire Hodnett, Children Mark and Mary Ann Hodnett, Craig and Debbie Hodnett, and Lisa Baird, six grand children, Nathan and Nickolas Stein, Hunter and Haley Hodnett, Brittany and Gentry Baird, and one sister, Dorothy Ruth Hodnett. His greatest accomplishment and love was to the Lord Jesus Christ and his service as a soldier to the Kingdom of God. He was 79 years old. He was a son, he is a son!
The Funeral Services will be Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. in the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Chapel. The Gathering of family and friends will be from 1 P.M. - 3 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home. With burial to follow in the Oak Grove Congregational Christian Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.
Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636
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