| 4. | HUGHES, Dr. Eugene Morgan  (1.Ruby1) was born on 3 Apr 1934 in Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska, USA; died on 10 Mar 2021 in Flagstaff, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA; was cremated in Mar 2021. Notes:
Died:
Dr. Eugene Morgan Hughes, former president of Northern Arizona University, Wichita State University, and Eastern Kentucky University (interim), passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 10, 2021 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
A well-known and beloved educator, administrator, mentor, and friend, Gene is most deeply missed by his immediate family, including his three children: Deborah (Hughes) Cruze (Gary), Greg Hughes (Barbara), and Lisa Hughes Zyriek (Don); his grandchildren: Melissa (Cruze) Hahn (Michael), Aaron Cruze, Rebecca Cruze, Stephanie (Hughes) Argetsinger (Nicholas), Clark Rotroff (Stacy Trejo), Franklin Zyriek, and Elizabeth Zyriek; his great-grandchildren: Nikki, Zoey, and Nathaniel Argetsinger, Clark Rotroff, and Olivia and Isaiah Trejo; and his first wife, Caroline (Hartwig) Hughes. He is also survived by his second wife, Margaret Ann (Romeo) Hughes; her children: Jeff Cibik (Melissa), Mark Cibik, and Christi (Cibik) Kalmer (John); and her grandchildren: Austin, Jake, and Logan Cibik, Autumn Cibik, and Taylor and Brian Kalmer.
Gene was born on April 3, 1934, the only child of Hazel Marie (Griffith) and Ruby Melvin Hughes in Scottsbluff, Neb. Although he grew up in very humble circumstances during the Great Depression, he was encouraged by his mother, an avid learner and reader, to believe in the transformational power of education. Gene was also influenced by his grandfather Harry Stillwell Griffith, a farmer, mechanic, and inventor. Summer vacations spent on the Griffith farm taught Gene the value of hard work and strengthened his ambition, self-reliance, and ingenuity.
He graduated salutatorian from Scottsbluff High School in 1952, where he was class president, a member of the National Honor Society, and earned four athletic letters. The first in his family to go to college, he attended Scottsbluff Junior College (now Western Nebraska Community College – WNCC) before earning three degrees in mathematics: a B.S. from Chadron State Teacher’s College (1956), M.S. from Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (1958), and Ph.D. from George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University (1968).
Alongside these steady academic achievements, Gene married his high school sweetheart, Caroline Mae Hartwig, in 1954, and together they raised three children, Deborah, Greg, and Lisa.
Gene was a popular and respected math professor at Chadron State College (CSC). While there, he became aware of the newly developing discipline now known as computer science and technology. At that time, little was known about the subject, so Gene created courses to help students learn as much as they could about this burgeoning field. Decades later, when attending a CSC Math Club reunion in 2011, Gene told alumni “… it was the highlight of my career” to learn about the successes his former students achieved in their own careers in industry and academia.
While a professor, Gene had also been involved in college administration, which would become his passion. His career in university administration flourished, and after serving as Dean of Administration at CSC, he joined Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1970 as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. After frequently relocating for Gene’s studies, his family eagerly adopted Flagstaff as their new “hometown” and became active in the community, with Gene serving on the boards of the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Flagstaff Summer Festival, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Boy Scout Council. He was also president of the East Flagstaff Rotary Club and a member of the Masons and Elks Lodge, even running the Elks "Hoop Shoot" free throw contest.
Meanwhile, Gene’s career continued to prosper. In 1973, he was promoted from Provost of Arts and Science to Vice President of University Programming and in 1977 became Academic Vice President. By the time Gene became a grandfather at the age of 48, he was already President of NAU, a role he would fulfill faithfully and enthusiastically from 1979 until 1993.
Gene and his first wife, Caroline, finalized their divorce in 1992. He later married Margaret Ann (Romeo) Cibik and together they relocated to Wichita, Kan., where he served as President of Wichita State University (WSU) from 1993-1999. Gene also served as Interim President of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in 2001, before the couple retired to Flagstaff.
In retirement, Gene remained actively involved in the community, including as a member of the National Advisory Board of the NAU School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (which he had helped found as President), chair of Amtrak’s National Customer Advisory Committee, and co-President of Flagstaff’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was also President of the Museum of Northern Arizona, a director of First State Bank in Arizona, and member of the Advisory Board of Sunwest Bank. In addition, Gene sat on the boards of the Flagstaff Sports Foundation and Flagstaff Hospital Foundation and was a grant writer for Horses, Heroes, and Hope, an organization founded by his son, Greg, to provide equine-assisted therapy to veterans, first responders, active military, and their families.
Over the years, Gene received many honors and recognitions. He was given the title of President Emeritus at both NAU and WSU and Professor Emeritus in Mathematics at NAU. He was also awarded three honorary doctorates: NAU in 1997, CSC in 2003, and EKU in 2011.
Gene was a fellow of the National Science Foundation and named an Outstanding Educator in America. In 1982, Gene received the Chadron State Distinguished Service Award and in 1986, he and then-First Lady Caroline Hughes were named NAU’s Homecoming Co-Dedicatees. Gene was selected as Flagstaff’s Citizen of the Year in 1988, received the Distinguished Mathematics Award from Kansas State University for 1989-90, received the Arizona Board of Regents Medal in 1993, and was chosen as the Outstanding Kansas Citizen of the Year by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers in 1998.
Gene was elected secretary/treasurer of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in 1988 and served as chairman in 1990-91. The School of Hotel and Restaurant Management building at NAU was named for him in 1997, and WSU dedicated the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex in 1999. In addition, Gene was commissioned an Honorary Kentucky Colonel in 2010 and an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska in 2013, both of which are the highest honors that can be awarded by the governors of those states.
The accolades continued into Gene’s golden years. He was inducted into the Flagstaff Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and NAU College of Education Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also named WNCC’s Distinguished Alumni of 2014 and received the Nebraska Community College Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014 and Coconino Community College Distinguished Service Award in 2016. (Gene was instrumental in founding Coconino Community College in 1991).
Gene was recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as a visionary in higher education and leader in all the communities he touched. A life-long learner whose greatest joys included reading, traveling, sporting events, and nature, he made authentic connections everywhere he went, with many considering him a role model and friend.
As his family mourns his passing and reflects on his notable accomplishments, they recall that what impressed them most of all was his character. Gene was a kind, intelligent, diplomatic man who listened patiently, cared deeply, sought compromises, and treated everyone with dignity. He made all who interacted with him feel seen, heard, appreciated, and loved. His wit, wisdom, and warm, dimpled smile will be greatly missed, but his legacy endures in the memories of how he touched all our lives.
Gene’s family will host a public visitation on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 4-7 pm at Norvel Owens Mortuary in Flagstaff. A public Celebration of Life will also be held later this year. The family invites those who wish to commemorate Gene to donate to the several funds he had established at either NAU or WSU.
NAU donations can be made in loving memory of Gene to Fund 1499 Drs. Eugene M. and Margaret Ann Hughes Education Scholarship and/or Fund 1514 Eugene M. and Margaret Hughes HRM Scholarship. Memorial gifts may be directed to the NAU Foundation online or via mail. A secure online gift may be made at http://foundation.nau.edu/giving.aspx?fnds=01514|01499. Similarly, a check may be made out to the NAU Foundation, with the fund number(s) in the memo line and the gift mailed to the NAU Foundation, P.O. Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4094.
If you wish to contribute to WSU in Gene’s memory, his family recommends the Hazel M. (Hughes) Barfoot Endowed Memorial Scholarship (Account #610451), a fund created by Gene in memory of his dear mother. Donations to WSU can be made securely online at https://foundation.wichita.edu/.
We will always love you Dad, Pops, and Grandpa!
Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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West Nebraska Family Research & History Center
1901 - 1967 (65 years)