I will forever deeply cherish the 50 plus year friendship I enjoyed with Craig Hudgins.  We met by happy circumstance in 1969 while living in the same Austin apartment complex, then choose to share an apartment together the next academic year - my second year of grad school and Craig‘s second year of law school. 
The year we lived together was memorable, especially for times we spent listening to favorite rock & folk music while challenging each other to identify the songs and artists. Following Craig's lead we planned our shared dinner menus each week. Consequently, living with Craig began a life-long joy of cooking. 
I also deeply cherish the week I lived again with Craig about 3 years ago. It was a rare opportunity to once again spend lots of quality time with Craig and made my first return to Austin in over 30 years, reconnecting with Craig and other friends, especially meaningful.
I will always love and fondly remember Craig Hudgins! He was an exceptionally kind, intelligent, and gentle man who was a unique and special friend.


I was fortunate enough to work with Craig for six years at the Texas Legislative Council, and he was unfailingly patient and kind in guiding new TLC lawyers as they learned the ropes. His sharp intellect, understated sense of humor, and natural humility made him a well-loved and respected colleague. I feel  privileged to have known this stellar human being. 

I'm not sure if I've ever known a person who was smarter than Craig.  I know for a fact I've never known a person more generous about sharing his knowledge with those less experienced than he was.  I can't imagine how much more difficult my life at the council would have been without his help, and I'm pretty sure that is true for any lawyer who worked at the council during Craig's lengthy  tenure.  Nor can I imagine how much emptier my life would have been without those great great evenings doing deep dives into his incredible collection of R&B 45's.  Craig will be remembered.  

I admired, respected, and loved Craig Hudgins.  We were colleagues a long time, and I learned a great deal from Craig. Likely the best reviewer of others' work I ever worked with, Craig's  sharp mind, command of language, and attention to detail was unsurpassed.  

When we were all younger--before kids and other changes in life--a group of us would gather at Craig's for Oscar watch parties and birthday parties.  

I took Craig to breakfast once--I think it was his 40th birthday--which was quite the feat because Craig was not a morning person.  I don't know what the term is for the opposite of a morning person (the scholarly Craig would know), but Craig was the opposite of a morning person.  Getting him to the office at the crack of dawn for a fictional meeting, I had to buy him breakfast to make amends for the fiction.

A kind, gentle soul who made Texas a better place.

Craig was a classic "gentleman and a scholar."  If this were not a moment of pronounced pandemic spiking, with its associated imperatives of isolating and distancing, this might have produced the biggest Texas Legislative Council memorial service I have ever attended.  It might still, if opportunity to honor his life is delayed until a safer time.  He will be missed.

OBITUARY

Geoffrey Craig Hudgins

May 15, 1947 – November 17, 2020

Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Homes & Cremation Services

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