James Gordon Hughes, Sr
May 24, 1934 – January 26, 2023
Jim was born in a farmhouse on Hughes Road to Howard and Lorene Hughes on May 24, 1934 and died on January 26, 2023. He attended Madison Junior High School and Graduated Huntsville High School class of 1952 where he met and later married the love of his life Billie Faye Webb in 1955. He graduated from Alabama Polytech Institute (Auburn University) in 1956. At Auburn he was a member of Sigma Nu social fraternity, the Arnold Air Society and the P Tau Sigma honorary Mechanical Engineering Society. He served in the 19th Bomb Wing (SAC) in the United States Air Force.
He worked at Thiokol Chemical Company and the US Army Missile Command in the Shillelagh Project Office, Deputy Project Manager for Viper and Javelin while serving as OPM,AAWS-M. After retiring from civil service, he worked at Northrup Grumman until full retirement in 2001.
Jim was very civic minded and help steer the growth of Madison. He was the first President of the Madison Planning Commission. President of the Madison PTA, trustee of Madison Junior High School, President of Madison Civitan Club North Division.
He was very active in establishing athletic programs in Madison. He was the first coach of the Madison Little league team several years before his boys were old enough to play. He was the first coach of the Madison YMCA football team. He coached several basketball, baseball, and football teams while his sons grew up in Madison.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with Bill and golfing with Jim.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Billie Hughes; and his brother, Bob G. Hughes. He is survived by two sons, James ’Jim’ Gordon Hughes Jr and his wife, Becky, and William ‘Bill’ Howard Hughes and his special friend, Debbie Kirkland; two grandsons, Bill Hughes (Beth Anne) and Jim Hughes; great-granddaughter, Lexi Hughes; and special friend, Caroline Williams.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. with Bob Burton officiating. Burial will be in Madison City Cemetery.
In lieu, of flowers, memorials may be made to Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care, 10000 Serenity Lane, Huntsville, AL 35803: hhcaringforlife.org
