Richard Earl Hughs

Richard Earl Hughs was born on January 2, 1936, in Rochester NY, to Earl Leaman Hughs
and Stella (Gentz) Hughs. Stella passed away that year and stepmother, Frances Hughs, helped raise Dick. He passed away on April 28, 2010 of advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Dick grew up in Rochester and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1957 with a B.S in Physics. He received his M.S. in 1959 and his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1961 from Purdue University. His research question, unanswered for 150 years, helped advance the fledgling space program. He and Gretchen Markwardt were married March 31, 1959, in Belleville IL. They had two sons: Mark Allen Hughs and Grant Evan Hughs.
Dick picked produce, planted thousands of tulip bulbs, cleaned vinegar stills, delivered newspapers, worked at a dry cleaners and did sheet metal work with his father to earn money for college. His first academic position was at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Afterward, he was employed by Sandia Corporation in Albuquerque, NM, where he watched from his office as atomic bombers took flight during the Cuban Missle Crisis. His mathematical model developed at Sandia, translated into English at the
request of the head of Sandia, proved the U. S. military's modis operandi in Viet Nam produced excessive service member attrition. The president of Sandia presented this proof to the Pentagon to no avail and then to President John Kennedy to no avail. Dick's top secret clearance prevented further discussion; the President of Sandia was retired.
In 1964 he went to Carleton College in Northfield, MN where he brought a fledgling computer to bear on social issues. In 1966 he began teaching at the newly-opening campus of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL. He and three other faculty members started Mathematical Service Associates; he became a registered investment advisor with the SEC and developed (on a still punch card-
dependent computer) and sold his stock forecasting model to mutual funds.
In 1969 he went to New York City with Cresap, McCormick and Paget where his consulting in education led to his job as Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Business at New York University where he was also in charge of designing and building their new structure on Trinity Place on time and under budget.
Dick started travels abroad as an external examiner at the University of Lagos in Nigeria and at the leading university in Ghana. In 1977 after receiving a commendation from NYU President John Sawhill for his meritorious work in the financial reorganization of New York University, he became Professor and Dean at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Business where he started the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. In 1985 while serving on the
Board of Sierra Pacific Power Company, he became Vice President for Corporate Affairs at the newly-organized Sierra Pacific Resources.
In 1990, he became Dean at the University at Albany, State University of New York, School of Business where he remained for six years before becoming Chairman of the MBA program and, as one student put it, "Father to the World." His mentoring of students was legendary. He and
Gretchen had as many as 40 students for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as he told each class, "If you don't have another invitation for Thanksgiving, you are invited to our house." His love of geography and world citizens began in his youth as a Ham Radio builder and operator. He
was also greatly influenced by the fictional "Mr. Chips."
He is survived by wife, Gretchen, sons: Mark Allen Hughs (Andrea Hughs-Baird) and Grant Evan Hughs (Maggie Bozanich Hughs); grandchildren: Matthew Hughs, Ryan Hughs, Sydney Hughs-Baird, Eric Hughs-Baird and Kate Hughs-Baird; stepmother Frances (Richuisa) Hughs;
stepbrother Glenn Hughs, numerous former students and their friends who considered him mentor and surrogate parent, and namesake, Hughs Hong.
While in Albany, he became an independent director with U. S. Global Accolade Funds and U. S. Global Investors Funds. He was also closely involved in Rotary International's
Ambassadorial Scholar Program. Returning to Reno in 2001, he immersed himself in Rotary's (high school) Youth Exchange Program and the New Generations Exchange Program, a career-oriented, 1-2-month program for college-age students.
In Tarrytown NY, Dick was a Cub Scout Pack Leader and built their mascot, The Tin Man, a boy-sized, Cub Scout accessorized figure of soldered metal cans. He was a member of honorary Sigma Xi (for promotion of research in science), an honorary member of both Delta Sigma Pi
(business school social fraternity) and Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary business fraternity). He was a member of Rotary Club of Reno, receiving his 7th Paul Harris Fellow from Gretchen for their 51st wedding anniversary. He volunteered with and served as President of SCORE
(formerly Service Corps of Retired Executives) in Reno and frequently gave seminars on how to start a business. He was also a member and former president of Citizens for Private Enterprise (NV), a former member of EDAWN, Red Cross Blood Services Board of New York, the Torch Club of Albany, NY, and listed in Marquis' Who's Who in America.
The family's heartfelt thanks are extended to our many friends and professionals who supported us through this journey.
For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Nevada Cancer Institute, c/o Wolfram Samlowski, One Breakthrough Way, Las Vegas, NV 89135 or Reno Rotary Foundation, District 5190 RYE Program-Hughs.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Walton Funeral Home in Reno.