of directors. He continues to serve as the "special scientific advisor" to a 

 national breeding program to develop a domesticated broodstock. 



"In my view, Ron Hodson is the father of the pond-reared hybrid 

 striped bass," Sullivan says. "It was a visionary undertaking on his part." 



Copeland agrees. "From research to big business — it is a world- 

 famous accomplishment." 



A Lesson in Leadership 



In 1997, Hodson was named 

 interim director for North Carolina 

 Sea Grant, and in 1998 became full 

 director. 



Less than a year later, his life 

 would change dramatically. 



After a national aquaculture 

 meeting in Florida in January 

 1999, he and Ruthie were visiting 

 friends. A flight in the friend's 

 small plane ended in a tragic 

 crash. Ruthie and the pilot's wife 

 died from extensive injuries. 

 Ron and the pilot would spend 

 weeks in hospitals and months in physical 

 therapy. 



Despite physical pain and emotional 

 trauma, Hodson found strength in family, 

 friends and his work. 



"I never once heard him complain 

 about his situation. I only saw his 

 □^termination to continue to live life to its 

 fullest," says Johnson, who often seeks out 

 Hodson's table at banquets and meetings. 

 "We love listening to him talk and listening 

 to the passion he has for Sea Grant and coastal North Carolina." 



Hodson now uses canes to walk short distances and a wheelchair 

 to maneuver along longer routes — and as a comfortable seat for long 

 meetings. The accident also changed his management style. "I had to learn 

 to delegate more," he says with a smile. 



In his nine years at the helm of North Carolina Sea Grant, Hodson says 

 he has seen the program's "buying power" decrease in light of rising costs. 

 "We must change the way we do business. We will be looking for additional 

 sources of funding," he says. 



While they have different personalities and styles, Hodson says that 

 he continues to use lessons he learned from Copeland. "B.J. showed the 

 strength of a diverse program based on needs identified by stakeholders." 



During his tenure, Hodson says he has strengthened the review 

 process for research proposals. And many Sea Grant projects are multidisci- 

 plinary in order to provide the best science on pressing coastal topics, he adds. 



"We've always had a great staff: extension, communications and 

 administrative," Hodson says. 



Many new outreach staff members are arriving with advanced degrees 



"Ron prorided great service to these 'green' farmers. 

 He took them under his wing, and worked boot-to- 

 boot to teach them about critical factors - spawning, 

 grading, and dealing with parasites, pathogens and 

 water quality management. In my view. Ron Hodson 

 is the father of the pond-reared hybrid striped bass. 

 It was a visionary undertaking on his pad. " 

 — Craig Sullivan 



— a sign of the times. "They're not teaching folks how to catch fish 

 better. We are helping people deal with regulations and manage coastal 

 resources," Hodson says. 



Sea Grant also has administered the state's Fishery Resource Grant 

 Program (FRG) since 1997. "Every year, the quality of the proposals 

 improves," Hodson says. 'This was our strongest year yet." 



The FRG program, along with the Blue Crab Research Program 

 also funded by the state, strives to pair researchers with academics. Rather 

 than "butting heads," the two groups often now partner 

 to test theories based on local 

 knowledge of fisheries and 

 ecosystems. 



"If we are going to solve 

 some of these management 

 questions, they are going to have to 

 work together," he says. 



Hodson has provided 

 leadership to the national Sea Grant 

 network as well, including serving on 

 the board of the Sea Grant Association 

 and as the directors' liaison to the 

 Assembly of Sea Grant Extension 

 Program Leaders. 



New Plans 



A few years after the plane crash, Hodson 

 was ready to start thinking about dating 

 — a daunting task for someone who had been 

 married for 36 years. He tried a modem tactic, 

 online dating services, with varying success. 



But it was an old-fashioned introduction 

 by friend Joan Messina, a former Sea Grant 

 employee, along with encouragement from 

 Todd, that led Ron to ask Kay to dinner. 



What was her response? She wondered what took him so long. 

 They were married within a year. She brought two married daughters 

 to the family, and Todd married the next year. 



Family — which now includes five grandchildren — will play a 

 leading role in Hodson's "so-called" retirement. 



And a new van will get mileage as he and Kay plan some travels, 

 especially during winter months. 



Hodson also plans to stay active professionally, with an emeritus 

 role in NC State's zoology department and an interest in new marine 

 aquaculture opportunities. Folks are already asking him to serve on state 

 and national committees. 



He also will make time for personal projects, albeit with the family 

 flair. He plans an expanded garden on his 20 acres near Apex, to provide 

 fresh vegetables for his table and others. 



And he may even raise a "heritage breed" of chicken known as 

 Buckeyes. 



Not a bad plan for a farm kid from Ohio, o 



Coastwatch I Early Summer 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 23 



