Rody grew up in Downs, Kansas, and graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri in 1918.
As a senior forward and basketball team captain in 1921–22, Rody led the Jayhawks to a 16–2 record and the Missouri Valley Conference championship, playing under legendary Hall of Fame coach Phog Allen.
Rody was described as “the high point scorer in the Conference, combining goals from the field with shots from the foul line.
The Kansas captain was a speed flash, a good shot, a brilliant dribbler, a shifty dodger, side-stepping, pivoting and out-witting his guards frequently.
Following the completion of his college career, Rody spent three years with the Hillyard Shine Alls, one of the top Amateur Athletic Union basketball teams in the United States, while also playing semi-pro baseball.
Rody led the baseball team to a 9 and 3 record in 1930 before the sport was discontinued for the 1931 season due to financial concerns.