CADEN HAYNOR / NEWS EDITOR

On Oct. 23, Marjorie “Marge” Hughes, the wife of Author “Art” Hughes,  the first president of USD, passed  away at 94 years old. 

As the first “First Lady” of USD,  Marjorie  served  the  University’s community for decades, known for her faith, hospitality and generosity. Raised in a strict Catholic family as the second of ten children, Marjorie Hughes had strong connections with her community and the students that she cared for.

In USD’s formative decades, Marjorie was known for her grace and quiet leadership which helped shape the social atmosphere of the University. President Art shared credit with Marjorie for much of their accomplishments with the University, particularly the familial  atmosphere  she  created.

President Author Hughes and Marjorie Hughes were very involved on campus. Photo courtesy of ‘USD: The First Forty Years’ by Dr. Iris Engstrand

Dr.  Kristin Moran, a   professor   in    the     communication  department,  talked about Marge Hughes as she knew her.

“I  knew  [Marge] because my mom was a professor here, so when I was little, I was friends with the daughter Susan. So [we] would hang out at her house,” Moran said. “Our families traveled together to Madrid and different places and my parents and Marge Hughes were friends. I knew her — both as a child, as my friend’s mom and I knew her, as a student, as the face of the University… She was like a stern mother, like a good, stern mom and she definitely brought this University into its first area of professionalism.”

Moran shared how Hughes was as a presence on campus.

“She was very present on campus as was her husband,” Moran stated. “It was a time period where presidents of universities didn’t have as many external obligations, so the president was around a lot and would have lunch on campus. President Harris does that, but it’s a little more programmed.”

In a 1995 USD Magazine interview, Marge recalled a cherished trip with President Art through Spain. There, they visited Alcalá de Henares, which was the Spanish university that USD’s architecture was modeled after.

In a letter to the University following Marjorie Hughes’ death, President Harris talked about Marjorie as he knew her.

“While we never had the opportunity to meet Art Hughes, Mary and I did have the privilege to know Marge,” Harris wrote. “She  was always gracious and kind to us and continued  to  embody   the values of the university throughout  her life.  USD  would not  be  the  institution  it  is  today  without the  loving   care   and   leadership   of  Art  and  Marge  Hughes and we are so  grateful for their lives. May their  souls and the souls of  all  the  faithfully   departed,  through  the  mercy  of  God, rest in  peace.”

For those that knew her personally and to those that did not, Marjorie’s legacy will continue to live in the hearts of every member of the USD community.

Author Hughes served as USD’s president from 1971-1994. Photo courtesy of ‘USD: The First Forty Years’ by Dr. Iris Engstrand