Roll Call Tribute

Harry Glenn Hughes 

May 11, 1953 - December 27, 2025 

H. Glenn Hughes, a beloved father and husband, passed away on December 27, 2025, at the age of 72. Glenn was born on May 11, 1953, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and spent his life devoted to his profession, his passions, and above all, his family.

Academically, Glenn was always at the top. He graduated near the top of his class from Hattiesburg High School in 1971 and earned his undergraduate degree in Forestry from Mississippi State University in 1975. He later received a master's degree from the University of Wyoming and a Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries from Texas A&M University. Among his brothers and cousins, Glenn was often affectionately referred to as "the smart one."

Glenn dedicated his career to teaching and service. He spent 19 years at Penn State University as a faculty member, where he earned the rank of Full Professor. He later served as an Extension Forestry Professor with Mississippi State University Extension. It was hard to find a tree farmer or forester in Mississippi who did not have a kind word to say about Glenn. He was widely respected for his hard work, generosity, and sincerity in all his professional relationships.

Throughout his life, Glenn pursued a wide range of interests. A lifelong tennis player and enthusiast, he most recently traveled with his son Matthew to watch the U.S. Open and celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary by following the Mississippi State Men's Tennis team during the 2025 NCAA tournament. He and his family took yearly road trips to national parks and museums across the country, often waking his children early to watch the sunrise at iconic sites such as the Grand Canyon.

Glenn also enjoyed sailing, a passion that took him to tropical islands with his brothers, where they dabbled in scuba diving. He later restored a 36-foot Pearson sailboat following Hurricane Katrina. A lifelong wilderness enthusiast, Glenn found his greatest peace outdoors, especially when sharing those experiences with others. Several of his grandchildren benefited from extensive road trips in his travel trailer, visiting national parks, museums, and historical monuments, building strong and lasting memories.

Glenn is survived by his loving wife, Barbi Hughes, with whom he shared a beautiful 50-year marriage. He is also survived by his children: Christopher Hughes (Geralynn) of Niceville, Florida; Matthew Hughes (Payal) of New York City, New York; and Laura Hughes Dunn (George) of Starkville, Mississippi. He is further survived by his five grandchildren—Tarquin, Andrew, George, Jude, and Eileen—as well as a wide circle of relatives, especially Leslie Higgins and Michelle Vaughan. Glenn was preceded in death by his brother, Rick Hughes, and his parents, Jess Hughes and Margaret Hughes.

A memorial service for Glenn will be held on Monday, January 5th, at The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 105 North Montgomery St., Starkville, Mississippi.