Max Cody

        Max Cody was born January 5, 1924, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the only son of Tom and Lottie Cody.  It was here that he was raised on Fifth Street until he was seven years old. It was at this point that the Great Depression finally forced the Codys to move back to Tom’s home place, in Knott County.

        Once here the family settled in Lackey, and then a few years later bought property from George Childers on Troublesome Creek. Max attended school in Hindman, where his mother Lottie, taught for many years. After high school he went to college at Alice Lloyd (then Caney Junior College) and later Bob Jones University for a short period of time.

        As the war initiative progressed, Max was not accepted into the Army because a childhood infection left him deaf in his right ear. Nonetheless, Max always had a desire to fly airplanes, so he decided to move back to Oklahoma City and work for Douglas Enterprises, building bombers for the World War II effort. Max often commented jokingly that there was not a lot of enthusiasm for building these planes since their average flight time in actual combat was only 32 seconds. Still, his desire for aviation kept him motivated and he started learning to fly as often as he could. He eventually earned his pilot’s license.

        After World War II, Max returned to Hindman, met Ida Gay Combs, and they were married in 1948. Max and Ida Gay (or, “Hody”, as most people knew her) had four children: Max Thomas, Jr., Lynn, Theresa, and Tim.

        Max joined his dad, Tom, in the family business that was started in 1939, this being Cody Hardware and Building Supply. When Tom was paralyzed by a stroke, Max took over the operation of the business and built a new building in 1965 for the growing operation. Max operated the business until his death on March 9,  1990. Here he earned the gratitude and loyalty of customers through his compassion. Many times Max extended credit to families needing an essential item like a heating stove, because he cared more about their well-being than whether he would ever be paid.

        In addition to the hardware business, Max also partnered with others to operate a Laundry Mat business near Alice Lloyd College and radio station WKCB in Hindman. He also served at a Hindman City Council member in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

        Max was a deeply religious man and studied the Bible extensively and as often as he could. It was his strong belief in God that called him to serve as deacon of the Hindman First Baptist Church from many years. Max enjoyed conversations with people and this was especially true with ministers. He loved to read, and he enjoyed his talks with James Still, a man he highly respected. He loved music and was an accomplished guitar player.

        Max Cody was known in Hindman, Knott County, and throughout the area as a respected businessman, church leader, civic leader, and father. He sought out ways to assist those in need and will always be remembered as a man who was kind, honest, and willing to lend a helping hand.