It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our great colleague and friend Dick Hodgins
As a young Leevale athlete Dick was one of the country’s most renowned track and field competitors. He was the first Irish schoolboy to run the mile in under five minutes. He won the Irish 1500m title in 1963 which was then held in conjunction with the City Sports and over the next 12 years he won 14 Irish titles over a wide range of distances over twelve years. Twice winning the national 1500m, twice winning the mile, three times champion over 2 miles, once over 10 miles, three times 15 mile champion and a marathon title in 1975 to round it off. He only missed out on the 1968 Olympics because of injury.
After that came the administrative side of things with a long spell as treasurer of Leevale AC, before joining the Cork City Sports Committee. It was not long before he found himself in the position of Chairman, a role he undertook with great passion and expertise for 19 years.
Up until his passing Dick has been Meet Director where he devoted a huge amount of time & effort to ensuring Cork City Sports remains a prime athletics fixture on the Irish & European calendar. For so many years he brought world class performers to Cork and also provided the opportunity for Irish athletes to compete internationally on home soil.
In November Athletics Ireland acknowledged Dick Hodgins’ vast contribution to athletics by presenting him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dick’s loss will be keenly felt by everybody who had known him. He was an exceptional person and a perfectionist in everything that he did. He was a hugely honest person and hugely popular among all athletes.
Dick Hodgins is survived by his wife Mary Pat and children Carol, Jill, Richard (Rickie) and Mark and a huge circle of friends throughout the athletics world.
May he rest in peace.
Lying in repose at the Temple Hill Funeral Home, Boreenmanna Road of Jerh. O’Connor Ltd. Removal on Saturday evening at 7pm to St.Columba’s Church, Douglas. Requiem Mass on Monday next at 12 noon. Burial will take place privately.
Thanks Maurice, we in Leevale will miss Dick badly, he was always available and generous with his help and advice. His knowledge on all aspects of athletics was enormous and will be sorely missed.As you well know he, and all in Leevale had great respect for Donore and we still are hurting from those times ye beat us in those epic Cross-Country club Championships.
” The day you won your town the race,
We chaired you thru! the market place
Man and boy stood cheering by
As home we brought you shoulder-high
Today the road all runners come
Shoulder high we bring you home
And set you by your treshold down
Townsman of a stiller town”
Finbarr OBrien,Leevale President.
We in Donore Harriers are greatly saddened by the passing of Dick Hodgins a brilliant athlete and perfect gentleman. We are very proud that he represented Donore while working in a bank in Dublin in the seventies. During that period he wore our singlet with much success, participating on many winning teams. He made great friends in the club by his easy manner and is remembered fondly by them this weekend. To his family, to Finbarr your club president and old friend and all Leevale members we offer our sincere condolences. Dick was a very special man.
Maurice Ahern
Vice-President
Donore Harriers