Billy was not an internet kinda guy, so not a participant here, but many will have known him nonetheless. He probably handled as many high grade English & Italian gun aquisitions for clients as any single person in the country over a long and successful career. He never 'sold' a gun as Ross Seifred(sp?) said in a recent Double Gun Journal article. He was a lifetime personal friend of mine & we had the good fortune to spend another day together just before Christmas & I'd spoken to them new years day. FWIW, his passing was quick & w/o pain. I thot those that knew him might like to see this:
Billy Lynn Hodge, age 82, died in Waco Texas on January 2, 2013. Son of Alfred Douglas Hodge and Opal Griffin Hodge, Billy was born June 21, 1930 in Valiant, Oklahoma and is survived by his wife and best friend of 40 years, Jackie Hodge.
He graduated from Dallas Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948. He was one of the top amateur Featherweight boxers in Dallas before turning professional in 1949. He proudly served in the United States Air Force and was on the USAF boxing team, then turned professional following discharge and was a ranked Featherweight before retiring in 1955.
He assisted his father in building Buckhorn Trading Post and then formed Buckhorn Quality Firearms, one of the finest high quality firearms businesses in the world, serving distinguished customers globally, and on a first name basis with the presidents and managing directors of the most prestigious shotgun makers including Purdey's, Holland and Holland, Westley Richards, Perazzi and Fabbri before retiring in 1995.
He was very visible as a major patron to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Camp John Marc Trusts, a Charter Member of Dallas Safari Club, Safari Club International, Game Coin International and the Texas Ranger Museum as well as many conservation causes and law enforcement charities.
Billy and Jackie Hodge travelled to Europe, Mexico, Central and South America to hunt together with close friends as well as shooting together in competition.
He was a man of impeccable character and generosity with a sly and enduring sense of humor. His word was his bond and he will be sorely missed by those that were privileged to know him as a friend.
~~~
As an aside, From the time I was a youngster, A.D., Billy's dad, never failed to ask me if I knew a guy that might wanna buy a bird dog. A.D. seemingly never had less than 30, more or less, on hand .. and ready to be yelled at.
Billy was another cut entirely. A.D. 'sold' guns & dogs. Billy was my friend.
Last edited by tw; 01/04/13 11:50 PM.
