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BEATRICE HODGDON ('16): Beatrice Hodgdon is living testimony to the principles of health, fitness and physical activity which she taught for 25 years (1921-47) here at Plymouth.
In 1985, at age 89, Miss Hodgdon continued to play golf three times each week, although admittedly her first love was tennis. Her students remember her as a vibrant and demanding coach and as a teacher who pointed to sports as being a means to a greater end.
Miss Hodgdon was responsible for helping to keep many of the female students here at Plymouth Normal School during the World War II years when enrollment was down by organizing various activities both on and off campus. It was not unusual to see Hodgdon leading two hundred students up Stinson Mountain for an outing.
She always fought hard for women’s athletics and even had a difference of opinion over women’s uniforms with then President of the College, Dr. Ernest Silver. He approved of the women basketball players wearing black stockings and bloomers, while Hodgdon requested that her players wear shorts. Silver finally agreed.
Most importantly, Beatrice Hodgdon was an inspiration to her students. In fact, the class of 1944 dedicated a permanent award in her name to honor senior women in physical education.
As a woman who taught, coached and participated in a wide variety of sports and inspired her students to do the same, Bea Hodgdon is deservedly recognized for her contributions to Plymouth State.
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