Dudley Joe Hughes

Dudley Hughes grew up in Texas, and graduated 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 antiaircraft artillery in the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for distinguishing himself by meritorious service. He wrote a book, Wall of Fire, about his Korean War experience.

After returning to the United States, Dudley Hughes rejoined Union Producing in Mississippi. He and his twin brother Dan Hughes formed a partnership and 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. He was elected to Membership of All American Wildcatters, a group limited to 100 members in the U.S. He was inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame in 1996; awarded the Geosciences and Earth Resources Distinguished Achievement Medal at Texas A&M University in 1997the American Association of Petroleum Geologists’ 2008 Outstanding Explorers Award; the Colonel Edwin L. Drake Legendary Oilman Award in 2010, honoring a lifetime of achievement with the oil and gas industry; and the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” and the Sterling C. Evans Medal, the two highest awards that Texas A&M gives to their alumni. He also authored the book Oil in the Deep South, along with several technical papers.

Mr. Hughes’ professional contributions to geological exploration include extensive philanthropic donations. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were named the 2009 Philanthropist of the Year by the state of Mississippi. He has been a loyal supporter of the Texas A&M College of Geosciences, and gave an endowment to the Texas A&M Berg-Hughes Center.

He was a member of numerous industry associations and served on many committees, including being the Co-Founder of the Metropolitan Supper Club.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.

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 June Hughes Ainsworth and Jane Hughes Christian (Jim). Dudley Hughes was predeceased in death by his father, Dan Greenwood Hughes, and his mother Winnie Williams Hughes.

Our overwhelming gratitude goes to Dr. Mark Meeks, the compassionate caring employees of Campbell Cove at St. Catherine’s Village, and Kelly from Gentiva Hospice.

Funeral services will be held 11am Thursday, 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, Office of Development, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 or Reformed Theological Seminary, 5422 Clinton Blvd., Jackson, MS 39209.