Roll Call Tribute
Ernest Hugghins '49 August 2, 2011 3:40 PM
Rudes Funeral Home obituary
Ernest Jay Hugghins
December 25, 1920 - January 5, 2010
Ernest J. Hugghins, 89, of Brookings, SD, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at his residence under hospice, after a prolonged battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Funeral services have been set for 1:30 pm on Monday, January 11, at the First United Methodist Church, Brookings. Visitation will be from 2 pm to 5 pm Sunday, January 10, at Rudes Funeral Home in Brookings.
Ernest Jay Hugghins was born December 25, 1920 in Bryan, Texas, to Ernest Clarence and Dua (Harris) Hugghins.
Ernie grew up in Bryan. After receiving his B.A. degree in Biology at Baylor University in 1943, he served as an officer in the United States Navy. He was an instructor in Microbiology, teaching student nurses at the University of Houston in 1946-47. He received his M.S. degree in Biology at Texas A & M University in 1949. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Michigan Biological Station and at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before earning his Ph.D. degree in Zoology at the University of Illinois in 1952. On August 12, 1952, he married Mildred K. Shields in Conway, Arkansas.
The newly-weds, both just out of graduate school, came to Brookings in September, 1952. He taught at South Dakota State University for 33 years, including service as Head of the Biology Department for his final 4 years. He retired in 1985 with the title of Professor of Biology Emeritus. He served as a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station, summer of 1960, and at the Black Hills Natural Sciences Field Station, summers of 1972-73. He had experiment station research projects from 1954-1985, dealing with parasites of fishes, wildlife, and domestic animals.
Among his foreign activities were the following: Fellow in Louisiana State University Interamerican Program in 1963, studying parasitology in Caribbean islands, Venezuela, and Colombia. Consultant for Office of Naval Research at 1st International Congress of Parasitology, Rome, Italy, 1964. Fulbright Professor in Lima, Peru, 1967. National Science Foundation Research grantee to study parasites of fishes in upper Amazonian regions of South America, summers of 1968-69. Participant in NATO Advanced Study Institute on Animal Learning, West Germany, 1976. Mini-sabbatical to Kenya, Africa, 1981. Participant in International Congress of Parasitology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 1986.
He held membership in numerous professional societies, including the following: American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow and Life Member); American Society of Parasitologists; Helminthological Society of Washington; American Microscopical Society, American Society of Zoologists; American Society of Mammalogists; The Wildlife Society; Wildlife Disease Association; South Dakota Academy of Science (President in 1960); Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists (President in 1978); Fulbright Alumni Association (Life Member); Phi Kappa Phi (President of the local chapter, 1974); Sigma Xi (President of the local chapter, 1966; Exchange Lecturer at USD, 1972); The Reserve Officers Association (Life Member). Among his biographical listings are Whos Who in America; World Whos Who in Science; American Men and Women of Science; Leaders in American Science; and Outstanding Educators of America (1974-75). He authored over 60 scientific publications and presented scientific papers at professional meetings. He also participated in the 47th National Security Forum at Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 2000.
His local affiliations included the following: First United Methodist Church (held various offices, went with work team to Haiti, 1990, recognized with wife for Special Service, 1998); Chamber of Commerce; Kiwanis Club (President in 1992); Brookings Area Retired Teachers Association (President in 1988); SDSU Association of Retired Faculty (President in 1989); AARP; honored with wife as Friends of the Arts 1998 by a plaque presentation. He also served on the Board of Directors of several entities.
Ernie loved music. He played saxophone in his high school and college bands. He played the harmonica by ear. He sang in numerous choirs and ensembles, including male quartets and solos. He participated in several community musical productions. In 1991, he and his wife joined a Sioux Falls Methodist choir in touring England; in 1994, they joined a Sioux Falls Lutheran choir in touring Germany.
In retirement, Ernie enjoyed traveling; reading, especially about history; writing his memoirs; and bird watching from his desk overlooking the backyard. As part of the family partnership of Skylight Apartments, he helped design, build and maintain them. He derived great pleasure from his grandchildren.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mildred K. Hugghins of Brookings; two daughters, Susan J. Hugghins, a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Kay (Tom) Becker of Brookings; one son, Colonel (USAF) Arley (Kristin) Hugghins of Bellevue, NE; four grandchildren: Samuel and Elise Becker, Grace and Jay Barrett Hugghins; two brothers: Joseph (Beverly) Hugghins, Robert (Dorothy) Hugghins all of Houston, Texas; one sister, Ann Vann of Tyler, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Hugghins and Bonnie Norton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: John Allen and Billy Guy, and one infant granddaughter, Hannah Becker.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to Ernest Hugghins favorite charities.
Ernest Jay Hugghins
December 25, 1920 - January 5, 2010
Ernest J. Hugghins, 89, of Brookings, SD, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at his residence under hospice, after a prolonged battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Funeral services have been set for 1:30 pm on Monday, January 11, at the First United Methodist Church, Brookings. Visitation will be from 2 pm to 5 pm Sunday, January 10, at Rudes Funeral Home in Brookings.
Ernest Jay Hugghins was born December 25, 1920 in Bryan, Texas, to Ernest Clarence and Dua (Harris) Hugghins.
Ernie grew up in Bryan. After receiving his B.A. degree in Biology at Baylor University in 1943, he served as an officer in the United States Navy. He was an instructor in Microbiology, teaching student nurses at the University of Houston in 1946-47. He received his M.S. degree in Biology at Texas A & M University in 1949. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Michigan Biological Station and at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before earning his Ph.D. degree in Zoology at the University of Illinois in 1952. On August 12, 1952, he married Mildred K. Shields in Conway, Arkansas.
The newly-weds, both just out of graduate school, came to Brookings in September, 1952. He taught at South Dakota State University for 33 years, including service as Head of the Biology Department for his final 4 years. He retired in 1985 with the title of Professor of Biology Emeritus. He served as a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station, summer of 1960, and at the Black Hills Natural Sciences Field Station, summers of 1972-73. He had experiment station research projects from 1954-1985, dealing with parasites of fishes, wildlife, and domestic animals.
Among his foreign activities were the following: Fellow in Louisiana State University Interamerican Program in 1963, studying parasitology in Caribbean islands, Venezuela, and Colombia. Consultant for Office of Naval Research at 1st International Congress of Parasitology, Rome, Italy, 1964. Fulbright Professor in Lima, Peru, 1967. National Science Foundation Research grantee to study parasites of fishes in upper Amazonian regions of South America, summers of 1968-69. Participant in NATO Advanced Study Institute on Animal Learning, West Germany, 1976. Mini-sabbatical to Kenya, Africa, 1981. Participant in International Congress of Parasitology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 1986.
He held membership in numerous professional societies, including the following: American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow and Life Member); American Society of Parasitologists; Helminthological Society of Washington; American Microscopical Society, American Society of Zoologists; American Society of Mammalogists; The Wildlife Society; Wildlife Disease Association; South Dakota Academy of Science (President in 1960); Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists (President in 1978); Fulbright Alumni Association (Life Member); Phi Kappa Phi (President of the local chapter, 1974); Sigma Xi (President of the local chapter, 1966; Exchange Lecturer at USD, 1972); The Reserve Officers Association (Life Member). Among his biographical listings are Whos Who in America; World Whos Who in Science; American Men and Women of Science; Leaders in American Science; and Outstanding Educators of America (1974-75). He authored over 60 scientific publications and presented scientific papers at professional meetings. He also participated in the 47th National Security Forum at Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 2000.
His local affiliations included the following: First United Methodist Church (held various offices, went with work team to Haiti, 1990, recognized with wife for Special Service, 1998); Chamber of Commerce; Kiwanis Club (President in 1992); Brookings Area Retired Teachers Association (President in 1988); SDSU Association of Retired Faculty (President in 1989); AARP; honored with wife as Friends of the Arts 1998 by a plaque presentation. He also served on the Board of Directors of several entities.
Ernie loved music. He played saxophone in his high school and college bands. He played the harmonica by ear. He sang in numerous choirs and ensembles, including male quartets and solos. He participated in several community musical productions. In 1991, he and his wife joined a Sioux Falls Methodist choir in touring England; in 1994, they joined a Sioux Falls Lutheran choir in touring Germany.
In retirement, Ernie enjoyed traveling; reading, especially about history; writing his memoirs; and bird watching from his desk overlooking the backyard. As part of the family partnership of Skylight Apartments, he helped design, build and maintain them. He derived great pleasure from his grandchildren.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mildred K. Hugghins of Brookings; two daughters, Susan J. Hugghins, a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Kay (Tom) Becker of Brookings; one son, Colonel (USAF) Arley (Kristin) Hugghins of Bellevue, NE; four grandchildren: Samuel and Elise Becker, Grace and Jay Barrett Hugghins; two brothers: Joseph (Beverly) Hugghins, Robert (Dorothy) Hugghins all of Houston, Texas; one sister, Ann Vann of Tyler, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Hugghins and Bonnie Norton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: John Allen and Billy Guy, and one infant granddaughter, Hannah Becker.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to Ernest Hugghins favorite charities.
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