Herbert Howard Hughes

Herb Hughes, public servant, community leader, sports enthusiast and loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on July 3, 2021, after a difficult struggle with laryngeal cancer. He was blessed to die at home with his wife and daughter at his side. He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Ruth Hughes and sister Carol Jean. He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy Hughes, daughter Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, son Bryn Hughes and three grandchildren: Ryan Fraitekh, Hannah Hughes, and Emelia Hughes and his dear brother Don Hughes and many wonderful nephews and nieces.

Herb was a native New Mexican and born in Roy on Sept. 15, 1930. He moved with his family to Albuquerque in 1939. He graduated from Albuquerque HS and the University of New Mexico where he lettered in football and baseball. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1952 serving as a Radar Navigator in the Korean War. Later, he joined the Naval Reserve where he worked over the years as a Hospital and Medical Administrator conducting health research and retired as a Captain in 1990. In 1956, he attended Florida State University where he pursued his PhD in psychology and served as Assistant Football coach with Burt Reynolds as one of his players. Herb met his future wife Nancy who was in the same psychology program, and they were married on September 28, 1957.

He was awarded his PhD in 1960 and they moved to Greeley, CO where he was a professor at University of Northern Colorado. Nancy and Herb's two children, Katherine and Bryn were born there. In 1966, they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Herb ran the Educational Research Bureau for the state and later was appointed State Budget and Financial Control Chief under Governor Dave Cargo. In 1968, they moved to Albuquerque where Herb joined the faculty at UNM where he taught public administration and was Director of Evaluation for the State Cancer Control Program. He was also elected as delegate and Vice President of the State Constitutional Convention in 1969.

Herb gained experience in the private sector as manager at BDM Corporation and Assistant Vice President of Fidelity National Bank. This led to him being appointed as NM State Banking Commissioner under Governor Jerry Apodaca in 1977 where he was known for fighting corruption and organized crime. Next, he was recruited to several positions at Bernalillo County including as Director of Finance and Administration, Administrative Services, Public Safety and Acting County Manager.

Herb was elected to the Albuquerque City Council from 1987-1995 and was responsible for key initiatives including the ABQ no smoking ordinance, ethanol anti-pollution ordinance, and water and waste management initiatives. As City Councilor, he served on the National League of Cities environment and natural resources committee. He was elected to the newly structured Public Regulation Commission from 1999-2004 serving as Commission Chair and Vice Chair.

In his capacity as community leader, Herb served on the Albuquerque and New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame for almost 20 years. He was inducted into the UNM Alumni Letterman's Association Athletic Hall of Honor, 2010. He served on many community boards including as President of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, UNM Presidential Scholarship Committee, ABQ Family Health Center Board, Albuquerque Heart Association Board, a member of the Menaul School Board and Hogares Board of Directors. He was a longtime member of New Life Presbyterian Church and served as an elder at several churches.

First and foremost, Herb was a man of integrity, compassion, vision, and a dedicated family man who spent many hours with his wife dancing, sharing travel and church activities and coaching, mentoring, and counseling his children and grandchildren. He had a smile that lit up any room and jokingly called himself "The Boy from Roy". He will be badly missed by all who had the honor to know him.

The ceremony and reception to celebrate Herb's life will be held Saturday, July 17, 2:00 pm at the New Life Presbyterian Church on 5540 Eubank Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a special fund at New Life Presbyterian Church.