During Godfrey's time as mayor of Normal he had two economic programs which included convincing Mitsubishi and Chrysler to build a factory in the city and the construction of a new indoor mall.
[3] Godfrey traveled to Cuba to meet with Fidel Castro as he was one of seventeen U.S. mayors selected by President Jimmy Carter in his pursuit to open relations with the country.
Students faced off with police along the way and damage was limited to some broken windows, a destroyed phone booth, and areas littered with trash.
[5] Godfrey met with five U.S. presidents, including Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, as well as ambassadors, prime ministers and foreign leaders and was invited to the White House eleven times.
[6] Godfrey was married to his wife, Mary Jean, for seventy years and lived at Marina City in Chicago.