Hugh Acton

1925 - 2018

Hugh Acton

Augusta - On May 19, 2018, our beloved father, our athlete cowboy, our creative mentor, has, at 92, arrived at the end of his earthly trail to begin his next journey deep into the heaven of our hearts. With his adoring and vivacious life-accomplice, Dorothy, at his side, Hugh reveled always in the vibrant life of their gracious community, inspired by all who sat at their table.

Hugh's life began September 17, 1925 at an orphanage in Missouri. He was raised on the Acton family farm and ranch in Scottsbluff, NE, tending to the cattle and crops - and his pet golden eagle. At the age of 14, the soap box car he designed and built had him competing at the National Championship in Akron. Soon after, and just prior to Pearl Harbor, he entered Kemper Military Academy. Upon graduating, he served as a young merchant marine officer on a troop ship in Okinawa, and again, seven years later, in Korea, as a forward observer for a Howitzer company; all the while, Dorothy waited anxiously in her apartment on the corner of Haight and Ashbury.

Between the wars, Hugh earned his B.A. in Philosophy at Grinnell College. There, an early athletic acumen blossomed into a true prowess on the track as a premier distance runner, winning track events at the Drake Relays.

Hugh's calling, found while pursuing his MFA at the Cranbrook Art Institute in Detroit, resulted in a lifetime dedicated to what he called the "translating principles of form found in nature to those of artful design". It guided his innovative furniture design and manufacturing work, as well as his art. His ergonomic chair, 'The Acton Stacker", slat bench and modular furniture systems, are all hallmarks of mid-century modern design.

His creative and athletic energy inspired all to share in the fun, be it in the form of his children's soap box derby cars, bike trips, century tours to benefit the GLEEP, or in the opening of the TUR-SKI-REE x-county ski area on their Michigan farm. Hugh's embrace of competitive cycling would find himself in the lead of the 1967 Michigan Cyclo-Cross Championship, which he won, later admitting that he did so because his brakes had failed! Hugh also became a national champion senior Olympian in x-country skiing at the age of 65.

While Hugh underplayed his many design awards, athletic medals and artistic accomplishments, he reveled in and nurtured those of his family and friends alike.

We honor Hugh, as a vibrant member of a family and community, who strove to achieve excellence and a deep beauty in all that he did. That beauty surrounds he and Dorothy now, kept vital in the spirit of all who were a part of their lives.

The Acton family will be eternally grateful to the Bowman family, Cerea Taylor, Ramiro Estrada and numerous others for the loving care given to both Hugh and Dorothy over the years.

Hugh is survived by his daughter, Tana (James) of Santa Fe, NM; sons, Rad (Marla) of Santa Fe, NM, Ty (Deb) of Scottsbluff, NE; five grandchildren: Tate of Scottsbluff, NE, Klair of Scottsbluff, NE, Freyr of Santa Fe, NM, Owen of Miami, FL, Michael of Santa Fe, NM.

A donation in Hugh's name may be made to either the Battle Creek Art Center or the Kalamazoo Art Institute.