Roll Call Tribute

Published in (Jackson MS) Clarion Ledger from Apr. 22 to Apr. 23, 2015

Dudley J. Hughes
Dudley J.Hughes

Jackson

Dudley J. Hughes, acclaimed geologist and philanthropist, 85, of Jackson died Tues. April 21. Dudley was the beloved husband of Robbie Hughes for 64 years.

Dudley Hughes grew up near Palestine, TX and graduated from high school there before receiving his geological degree from Texas A&M in 1951. Hired by Union Producing Co. as a field geologist and scout, he was almost immediately called up for active duty by the military. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army artillery in the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for distinguishing himself by meritorious service against an armed enemy in Korea, from December 1952 to May 1953. His book about his Korean War experience, The Wall of Fire: A Diary of the Third Korean Winter Campaign, was published in 2003. 

After returning to the United States, Dudley Hughes rejoined Union Producing, and the company assigned him to an active exploration area in Mississippi. He and his twin brother, Dan Hughes, formed a partnership to hold a producing lease. They later started a company, Hughes & Hughes, for independent operations. Since that first lease in 1951, Mr. Hughes has had an extremely accomplished 40-year career in exploration geology.

Mr. Hughes received numerous professional and civic honors. In 1971, he was elected to Membership of All American Wildcatters, a group limited to 100 members in the U.S. In 1994, he received a Lifetime Achievement Recognition from the Alabama Oil & Gas Board. In 1996, he was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Geosciences and Earth Resources Distinguished Achievement Medal at Texas A&M University, in 1997. In 2002, he was appointed to the National Petroleum Council in Washington, DC. He also was awarded the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' 2008 Outstanding Explorer Award. In 2010, he was awarded the Colonel Edwin L. Drake Legendary Oilman Award, honoring a lifetime of achievement with the oil and gas industry, and the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" by Texas A&M University. He is the author of the book Oil in the Deep South: A History of the Oil Business in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, 1859-1945, along with several technical papers. 

Mr. Hughes' professional contributions to geological exploration include extensive philanthropic donations. Mr. Hughes was named the 2009 Philanthropist of the Year by the state of Mississippi and has been a loyal supporter of the Texas A&M College of Geosciences. In addition, he has been a generous supporter of the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences as well as many educational institutions and church related organizations. 

He served on many committees, including past director of Trustmark Bank, past director of the Hundred Club, past director of the Friends of the Game Conservancy, and Co-Founder of the Metropolitan Supper Club. His associations included the US Oil & Gas Association, Independent Petroleum Association of America, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Independent Earth Scientists, Mississippi Geological Society, Geological Society of America, American Association of Petroleum Landmen, American Association Academy of Science, New York Academy of Sciences, Mississippi Certified Professional Geologist, and the Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.

An avid outdoor sportsman, he made annual trips to Great Britain for more than fifteen years, shooting grouse, partridges and pheasants during season. Another favorite sport was fishing for Atlantic salmon in Canada. Art was also a major interest in his life, and he loved collecting paintings and tapestries. Although an astute geologist and highly successful businessman, this soft-spoken and scholarly man will most of all be remembered by his big heart and generous spirit by all who knew him.

He is survived by the love of his life, Robbie Watson Hughes; his two daughters, Vikki Hughes Johnson (Price) and Cynthia Hughes Meehl (Brian);grandchildren, Mims Hughes Wright (Kelly), Elizabeth Watson Wright (Jesse Higginbotham), Neal Price Wright, Holly Robin Meehl, and Rose Kendall Meehl and great-grandchildren, Felix and Wren Wright. He is also survived by his twin brother, Dan Hughes; his twin sisters, Beverly June Hughes Ainsworth and Barbara Jane Hughes Christian (Jim). Dudley Hughes was predeceased in death by his father, Dan Greenwood Hughes and his mother, Winnie Belle Williams Hughes.

Funeral services will be held 11am Thurs. April 23rd at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson. 

Visitation is 9am-11am at the church. A private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The MIND Center of University of Mississippi Medical Center.






Funeral Home
Parkway Funeral Home and Memorial Park
1161 Highland Colony Pkwy Ridgeland, MS 39157 
(601) 853-7696