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Memphis police said Hodges died Monday after officers responded to an ambulance call in East Memphis.
He repeatedly ran for Memphis mayor from 1978 through 2019 while maintaining his unusual Prince Mongo persona.
Hodges became a recognizable Memphis figure through his political campaigns, businesses and distinctive public personality.
Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges, a longtime Memphis political candidate known for his eccentric public persona and claims of extraterrestrial origins, has died, according to the Memphis Police Department.
Police said officers responded to an ambulance call in the 1100 block of Crestwood Drive in East Memphis at about 7:40 p.m. Monday. Hodges was transported to a hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead. Police said there were no signs of foul play.
James Cella, who described himself as a close friend of Hodges, told WREG that Hodges had been cutting a branch from a neighbor’s tree that extended onto his property shortly before the incident. Cella said Hodges apparently lost his balance and fell into the neighboring yard.
According to Cella, Hodges remained conscious after the fall but stopped breathing.
CPR was started before he was taken to Regional One, where he died either during transport or after arriving at the emergency room, Cella said.
Authorities identified Hodges as 89 years old. Public records cited in the supplied reports contain conflicting information, listing his age as either 79 or 89. Hodges himself maintained a far different story, claiming to be 333 years old.
Hodges first entered the Memphis mayoral race in 1978 and continued appearing on mayoral ballots through his final campaign in 2019. His repeated candidacies made him a familiar figure in the city’s political landscape over several decades.
His strongest showing came in the closely contested 1991 mayoral election. Willie Herenton defeated incumbent Dick Hackett by 142 votes out of nearly 248,000 ballots cast, while Hodges finished third with approximately 2,900 votes.
Hodges’ political platform changed considerably over the years.
Campaign advertisements published by The Commercial Appeal in the early 1990s included proposals ranging from optional taxes and free health care for elderly residents to public hangings for people convicted of what he described as heinous crimes.
Hodges built his public identity around the name Prince Mongo and claimed that he originated from a planet called Zambodia. He presented himself as an ambassador from the planet and frequently appeared in unconventional clothing, including wigs and goggles, while often going barefoot.
The persona extended beyond his political campaigns and became closely associated with his businesses and appearances around Memphis. His unusual style helped make him one of the city’s more recognizable local characters.
Hodges owned several properties in Memphis, including the Front Street building that housed his nightclub, Prince Mongo’s Planet.
He also owned Ashlar Hall, a historic Midtown mansion that became home to another club known as Prince Mongo’s Castle. After acquiring the property, Hodges used it as an event venue, but the mansion eventually fell into disrepair.
His activities therefore extended beyond electoral politics, connecting his name with Memphis nightlife, real estate and the city’s distinctive cultural scene.
Hodges’ long political career also intersected with one of Memphis’ most closely contested mayoral elections. Herenton later credited Hodges with helping him become Memphis’ first elected Black mayor.
In a Facebook statement following Hodges’ death, Herenton said Prince Mongo had been instrumental in helping him win that historic election and offered prayers for Hodges’ family.
Marie Pizano, a Memphis arts and culture advocate who worked with Hodges in recent years, remembered him for his creativity, charisma and distinctive character.
Pizano said Hodges had a “presence all his own” and described him as a free spirit with a warm personality. She also noted that many Memphis residents had their own stories about him, reflecting the unusual place he held in the community.
Pizano and Hodges had worked together on arts and culture related business initiatives, although their ventures did not come to fruition during his lifetime.
Hodges’ death marks the end of a political career that stretched across more than four decades. His repeated mayoral campaigns, unusual platform and self-created Prince Mongo identity made him a distinctive figure in Memphis public life.
His legacy also reached beyond elections. Through his clubs, properties and connections to local arts and culture, Hodges became part of the city’s broader social and cultural history.
Who was Prince Mongo?
Prince Mongo was the public persona of Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges, a Memphis political candidate, nightclub owner and local personality known for his eccentric appearance and claims of extraterrestrial origins.
How many times did Prince Mongo run for Memphis mayor?
Hodges first ran for mayor in 1978 and continued running in Memphis mayoral elections through 2019.
What happened to Prince Mongo?
Memphis police said Hodges was taken to a hospital after an ambulance call in East Memphis on Aug. 10. He was in critical condition and was later pronounced dead. Police reported no signs of foul play.
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