Taking life by the horns

Hodges in the roping pen and beyond
  • HODGES ON HIS “ONE-OF-A-KIND” horse, Rebel, heeling at a local roping. Photo courtesy of Alfred Hodges
    HODGES ON HIS “ONE-OF-A-KIND” horse, Rebel, heeling at a local roping. Photo courtesy of Alfred Hodges
  • STILL SADDLING UP every day, Alfred Hodges puts his saddle away after a quick training ride. Tribune photo by Sabine Lazo
    STILL SADDLING UP every day, Alfred Hodges puts his saddle away after a quick training ride. Tribune photo by Sabine Lazo
  • HODGES WORKING ON LINE CREW for Central Power and Light in September of 1967. Photo courtesy of Alfred Hodges
    HODGES WORKING ON LINE CREW for Central Power and Light in September of 1967. Photo courtesy of Alfred Hodges

    When most people picture life at 79 years old, they think of rocking chairs, board games and watching television -- maybe playing some pickleball, for the extra adventurous.

    For Alfred Hodges, 79 years old looks like training horses by day and heading to a team roping on the weekend -- maybe bringing home a buckle, if it’s a good weekend.

    “I’ve been roping -- or trying to rope -- for 45 years or so,…