Madison Lee Hodges

Madison Lee Hodges died on July 18, 2014, in Tallahassee, from cardiac arrest following lengthy treatment for a rare bone cancer. He was born on December 25, 1947 in Pine Bluff, Ark., to the late Elsie Madison (McBurnett) and Norman L. Hodges, Sr. He was the grandson of the late Matthew and Janie (Byrd) McBurnett of Pine Bluff and the late Samuel and Emma (Haven) Hodges of Forrest City, Ark. Madison is survived by his wife, Dr. Anne (Robinson) Hodges, son Matthew McBurnett Hodges and daughter Emma Stewart Hodges of Tallahassee. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Norman L Hodges, Jr. of Little Rock, Ark. Madison was a 1965 graduate of White Hall High School, Pine Bluff. He earned the M.A. degree from the University of Kentucky, the B.J. degree from the University of Missouri and the B.S.E. degree from the University of Arkansas. A lengthy career in radio began while in high school working for the legendary Buddy Deane at radio station KOTN in Pine Bluff. After college Madison was a reporter and weekend anchor at KTHV-TV in Little Rock. It was in Little Rock that Madison began his long association with Public Radio. He served as the general manager of university public radio stations at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Eastern Kentucky University and Florida State University. After these positions he worked for a number of years at National Public Radio (NPR) headquarters in Washington, D.C. as the project manager for the Public Telecommunications Facilities program (PTFP) and as NPR's Director of Policy and Station Services. He then served as Executive Director of University Station Alliance, a non –profit organization representing NPR-affiliated radio stations licensed to colleges and universities. From 2006 until his death, Madison was General Manager of WQCS-FM at Indian River State College (IRSC) in Ft. Pierce, Fla. Madison served as the President of the University Station Alliance and for many years has been a member of the Executive Board of the Florida Public Broadcasting Service, Inc. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at Christ Presbyterian Church, 2317 Bannerman Road, Tallahassee. Madison's cousin, the Rev. Searcy D. McBurnett, of Little Rock, will assist at the service. If considered, the family requests any donations be made to public radio station WQCS-FM, IRSC, Ft. Pierce, Fla.; public radio stations KLRE/KUAR-FM, UALR, Little Rock; the local public radio station of your choice or the American Cancer Society. The family wishes to express deep appreciation to Madison's colleagues at IRSC and his Florida Cancer Specialist team for their incredible support this past year. The family will be at their home at 158 Meadow Ridge Dr., Tallahassee, Fla. 32312.