University Park

University Park

Following its June 1950 groundbreaking ceremony, it didn't take long for the new Park Cities YMCA to take shape. The modern structure was ready to go in September 1951, and an open house was held the afternoon of the 23rd. Presiding over the ceremony was board member R.T. Behannon. The next night an open-house dance was held with music provided by Tex Beneke and his orchestra, probably the top musical group in the nation in 1951. The Glenn Miller Orchestra had previously held the top spot. When Miller needed a sax player, Gene Krupa recommended Gordon Beneke. When Miller met Beneke, he was amazed at Beneke's Texas drawl and said "Tex, get out your horn and let's hear you play!" Gordon became Tex from then on, and later had his own band.

In today's world, it would be like having Paul McCartney play for a local YMCA opening.
As grand as the 1951 opening of the new Park Cities YMCA was, it was also bittersweet because the man who single-handedly brought the YMCA program to the Park Cities, Shirley Hodges, had died of a heart attack before the building was completed. He was 53 years old. Hodges was one of the great visionaries of his time and was one of the most accomplished leaders we've ever seen in the Park Cities. It is hard to find a local leader since 1951 who could fill his shoes. He was truly an amazing man.

Hodges was a well-respected pediatrician and was elected president of the Dallas Pediatric Society. He was president of the Southwestern Amateur Athletic Union and helped bring the girls AAU national championship game to Dallas. He was president of the Highland Park Independent School Board and had just been elected president of the North Texas Association of School Boards when he died. He had served as city health officer for the city of University Park.