October 22, 1908 ~ April 10, 2006
Thomas Jefferson Hughes, Jr., a long time Cushing business and civic leader died April 10, 2006 in Tulsa. He was 97.
T. J. was born October 22, 1908 and raised in Cushing. His parents were Thomas J. and Clara Hughes, an early pioneer Cushing family.
He graduated from high school at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM. He attended college at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.
T. J. was a wrestler in high school and college. While at Washington and Lee he competed for a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team.
He managed the family building supply business until the mid sixties, when he retired. He was active in industry affairs throughout his business career and served as President of the Oklahoma Lumbermen's Association in 1956. He was a Director of the Bank of Cushing for forty-five years, retiring in 1989.
T. J. was presented with the 1997 Community Service Award by the Cushing Chamber of Commerce. He was a Past President of the Chamber and served on the Board of Directors for many years.
He had been a long time member of the Cushing Country Club and became an active golfer for several years following his retirement.
T. J.'s parents were among the founders of the First Presbyterian Church where he was a life long member.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1979 shortly before their fiftieth wedding anniversary. He later married Faye Crenshaw, who died in 2000.
T. J. is survived by two sons, Tom Hughes and his wife, Sally of Tulsa and Jack Hughes and his wife, Michele of Edmond; four grandchildren, Jeff Hughes and his wife Ann of Tulsa, Robert Hughes and his wife Carolyn of Tulsa, Holly Lehman and her husband Scott of Tulsa and Mark Hughes of Edmond, and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Tom Stewart officiating.