Lancer Wall of Fame

Nathan Hodel, son of Ron and Terry Hodel, grew up in Fairview Heights with older brother Matt and younger sister Emily. During his high school career, Hodel’s time was filled with athletic and academic experiences, which he still draws from today.As a member of the Lancer football team, Hodel played center, defensive end, and tight end and developed his long snapping skills. Although at the time Hodel did not realize how significant the long snapping skill would become in his football career, he closely followed the instructions of his coaches. Hodel also played baseball for East during his four years, contributing to pitching and outfield positions. For his contributions on both the football and baseball fields, Hodel received all-city and all-area recognitions, played in the Illinois High School All-Star Baseball game, and was awarded the Bobby Baldwin Award for the most outstanding male athlete, as voted on by the Lancer coaches and staff. Hodel still considers the Bobby Baldwin Award to be among his most prized recognitions.

Hodel’s athletic and academic success did not end with his graduation from East in 1996. As a freshman at the University of Illinois, Hodel redshirted on the both the football and baseball teams. However, in the fall of 1997, Hodel was awarded a scholarship for football and had to focus solely on his long snapping duties. For the rest of his college career, Hodel handled all of the Illini’s long snapping duties, earned four varsity letters, four Academic All-Big Ten Team honors, and four George Huff Awards. Because Hodel was red-shirted his first year, he was also able to earn his Communications degree and begin his MBA program while on scholarship.

After Hodel’s final season for the Illini had concluded, his focus became finishing his MBA; however, he soon was contacted about NFL draft possibilities. Signed by the Carolina Panthers to the 2001 training camp, Hodel continued his MBA work as a NFL career was a long shot. At the conclusion of the training camp, Hodel was selected for the Panther practice squad. He later discovered that he was the first long snapper to ever be put on a practice squad. Just after settling into his role on the team, Hodel learned that he had been picked up by the Arizona Cardinals, a move that would prove to be his first experience with the business side of sports.

Joining a team mid lockers is always difficult, but Hodel was fortunate to have a former Illini player and good friend Fred Wakefield already with the organization and class players like Pat Tillman befriending him quickly. Hodel would remain a Cardinal from the 2001 season through the 2009 Super Bowl XLIII season, placing him eighth in the organization’s all-time record book for consecutive games. After his release from the Cardinals, Hodel was quickly picked up by the New England Patriots, where he played three pre-season games before being released. This experience was yet another reminder of the business side of sports. Hodel would spend the fall months traveling to Cincinnati, St. Louis, Tennessee, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Detroit for team tryouts. Late in the 2009 season, Detroit signed Hodel to a contract when their own long snapper was suffering from concussion injuries. There are many highlights to Hodel’s NFL career, but he is most impressed with the fact he played in a Super Bowl and shared in not only Emmitt Smith’s final career game but Jerry Rice’s as well.

Away from the playing field, Hodel has also filled other vital roles. As a Cardinal player, Hodel was selected by his teammates to be their union representative. Having his MBA assisted Hodel in educating players on their bargaining agreement, NFL financial programs, grievance procedures, and more. Hodel was also responsible in part for the discovery of individual team 401k fund mismanagement and team waivers written in violation of the CBA. In addition to his union duties, Hodel has also recorded radio and television spots, authored player safety resolutions, and established the Hodel Foundation charity.

Charity work and community involvement have always been a top priority to Hodel. With time between seasons, Hodel and his wife, Kim, dedicate their time to Arizona programs such as the Crisis Nursery, hospital visits, and Homeward Bound. As a champion for Crisis Nursery, Hodel and his wife brought a number of his Cardinal teammates to an over-burdened and under-funded Phoenix nursery working with newborns through early teens. With a fair amount of ease, Hodel was able to bring needed supplies, make a memorable day for the staff and children, and provide a voice for the program.

His work with Crisis Nursery inspired Hodel and his wife to establish the Hodel Foundation with the broad goal of helping children overcome educational obstacles and, in times of extreme crisis, help children and their families regain peace and normalcy. Hodel’s work as president of his foundation has been very rewarding and provides inspiration for himself and his wife. The Hodel Foundation has been involved in many events, but the most successful was a golf tournament, which benefitted a cancer-stricken mother and her newborn. Upon learning of the family’s escalating medical bills, Hodel and his wife wanted to help. With only four weeks to plan, the Foundation pulled together a charity golf tournament that raised more than thirty thousand dollars. Hodel was also able to negotiate with Wal-Mart to donate supplies for the tournament as well as baby supplies for the newborn and coordinated three major media networks so each had proper access to the back story. The funds raised and the positive media exposure generated not only helped the family with the medical expenses but also improved the family’s state of mind and advanced the healing process.

Another Foundation activity which Hodel and his wife are proud of occurs each Christmas season. During the Christmas shopping season, the Foundation rewards certain at-risk teens who have met their educational and social goals with a shopping trip. Twenty-five children and teens from Homeward Bound, a Phoenix area home for children displaced due to domestic violence, would be selected with the help of the organization’s president. Those recognized receive $250 to spend on items for themselves or others. Without fail, the young people selected to receive this holiday gift rarely spend any money on themselves. This continued act of selflessness inspires Hodel and his wife each year and motivates them to continue their efforts with these young people.

Today, Hodel lives in Chandler, Arizona, with his wife Kim, whom he met as a student at U of I. They have a five-year-old daughter, Riley, and a three-year-old son, Miller. Hodel is currently a free agent talking with a number of NFL teams. However, after one shoulder surgery, four knee surgeries, and one impending surgery, Hodel is preparing for life after football. Hodel has taken a hobby of photography and started a small business called Dusty Treadmill Photography. Since starting, he has taken head shots for actors, album cover art for musicians, and sittings for families, as well as landscape and nature photographs. He has also found a way to combine his love for photography with his charitable foundation. Whether a family needs to save moments for happiness or to gain closure, Hodel wants to provide that opportunity for them.

With all of his failures and successes, Hodel has found one statement to be truer than most: The reason why most people fail instead of succeed in life is because they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.

Mark Kern was born and raised in Belleville and attended Belleville East High School.  Mark was a proud member of the graduating class of 1981.  

After graduation from Belleville East Mark enrolled in Millikin University and graduated in 1985 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He continued his education at Washington University where he received a Juris Doctorate degree in 1988 and an M.B.A. in 1991.

He became an alderman in the City of Belleville in 1993 and in 1997 was elected to the office of Mayor.  Mark was the Mayor for seven years until he was elected to the position of St. Clair County Board Chairman. He has successfully run twice for the office and currently holds that position.

In addition to his political career he is the President of Belleville Mechanical, Inc., a growing heating and cooling business that he founded in 1995.  Belleville Mechanical employs 30 people and is located in the Belle Valley Industrial Park.

Mark believes strongly in giving back to the community.  In 1997, Mark, his wife, and a dedicated group of volunteers organized Gifts from the Heart, an event that raises funds to purchase toys and clothing for St. Clair County families in need.  Their efforts have enabled Santa Claus to deliver nearly $200,000 worth of Christmas cheer over the past 13 years.  Each year Mark also donates bicycles and food to neighborhood “Back to School” picnics and is a generous supporter of numerous charities throughout the community.

Since taking office as County Board Chairman, Mark Kern has demonstrated ongoing support and advocacy for children’s health and well-being. From the beginning of his term as Board Chairman Mark identified the need for adequate prenatal care and the health and well-being of children as important public health issues.  Accordingly he has been a strong supporter of health services offered by the St. Clair County Health Department and the East Side Health District.  Additionally, he is a determined advocate for Senior Citizens establishing the first St. Clair County Office on Aging to help older adults easily attain the services they need and deserve.

He has initiated clean up programs for citizens throughout St. Clair County.  As Mayor he began the first City Wide Clean Up, a program enabling residents to dispose of items they no longer needed free of charge. As County Board Chairman he continued his clean up efforts by beginning the St. Clair County Clean Sweep Program that aids neighborhoods with clean ups and provides dumpsters to citizens.  Through this program to date approximately 4,500 tons of debris and over 100,000 tires have been collected from communities throughout St. Clair County and disposed of as a service to the residents.

Mark is involved in many organizations throughout St. Clair County. He is a member of the Shriners, Elks, Moose, Optimist, Exchange Club, Turkey Hill Grange Association, Scottish Rite, Missouri Bar Association, the National Rifle Association and numerous Chambers of Commerce.

He is a member and Past Chairman of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments where he has been instrumental in obtaining necessary funding for infrastructure projects throughout the region. He is the current Chairman of the STARRS (St. Louis Area Regional Response System) Board and Chairman of the East Side Health District Board.  

Mark has been the recipient of the Belleville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Government Administrator of the Year, Doctor of Humane Letters from Lindenwood University, Racial Harmony Outstanding Community Service Award, NAACP Stellar Award, the Sibley Medallion of Honor Award from Lindenwood University and the Crystal Wagon Award from Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

Mark married Erin McMullen in 1991 and they have three children, Fred, currently a student at Belleville East, Laura and Matt, soon to be students at Belleville East High School.