b"2019-2020RecognitionPMAAsBenny HodgesPMAA's 2019 Distinguished Service AwardPMAA DistinguishedMr. Hodges is the father of six children, twelve grandchildren, Service Award Committee and a great-grandchild. His youngest daughter, Alexandra, is the Chair Steve Clark (GeneseeOperations Manager at Hodges Oil Company, Inc. and will even-Energy, Seattle, Washington)tually become the fourth-generation business owner. Benny and was pleased to announce thathis wife Mary Ellen have been married for thirty-six years and Benny Hodges, President andare both involved and work in the business together.CEO of Hodges Oil CompanyUpon hearing the news of this award, Benny stated, When I Inc., was the recipient of thelearned that I was this years recipient of the Distinguished PMAAs prestigious 2019 Service Award,I was completely surprised. shocked would Distinguished Service Award.be a more accurate description! It never dawned on me that I Hodges Oil Company Inc,would be considered, much less receive such a prestigious award. is a third-generation ownedIt still seems surreal to me to be placed into the same category petroleum business locatedas the previous recipients, for whom I have so much respect and in Belen, New Mexico thatadmiration. I believe it to be the highest recognition that our specializes in wholesale fuelassociation (PMAA) can bestow. and I am completely humbled deliveries. It all began in 1923and honored to have even been considered. After a week of trying when Frank Trainer (Bennys maternal grandfather) began as ato absorb this, I am still shocked!commissioned agent for Continental Oil Company. After WWII,The award was presented at a luncheon held in his honor on Benny Hodges (Bennys dad) took over the business and ran itTuesday, October 1, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta during the until his passing in 1969. Award recipient, Benny, attended thePMAA Fall Meeting at the NACS Show.University of Oklahoma until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1966. He was deployed to Vietnam after graduat- Sing from Officer Candidate School (OCS) as a 2nd Lieutenant. He returned home when his father became gravely ill, and heArticle courtesy of PMAA Today.was Honorably Discharged in 1969. At that point, he took overP MAA Today is published by The Petroleum Marketers Association of America the business to keep it going. In 1978, Benny incorporated the(PMAA), 1901 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22209 business into Hodges Oil Company, Inc. Fifty years later, he has more than just kept it going, but evolved it into the business it is today. Mr. Hodges also attended the University of New Mexico to study Political Science and Business Administration.Benny has served on the Board of the New Mexico Petroleum Marketers Association as well as the Western Petroleum Market-ers Association for over 25 years. He has been President of both the state and regional associations, member of the Executive Committee for both associations, and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee for New Mexico. The PMAA positions held by Mr. Hodges over the past years include PMAA Chair, Brands Chair, Chair of the Western Regional Nominating Committee, member of the PMAA Motor Fuels Committee and Executive Committee.Benny is also on the Board of Directors for Spirit Petroleum and the WMI Mutual Health Insurance Company. In the past, he has served on the Belen Consolidated Schools Board of Education, the University of New Mexico Valencia Campus Advisory Board, New Mexico Environmental Storage Tank Board, Ranchers Bank Board, and the Governors Excise Tax Force Committee.10 www.wpma.com / Spring 2020"