Hometown: Repton, KY (Morton-Elliott Academy (Elkton))
Position: C-F
Date of Birth: April 22, 1902
Date of Death: August 31, 1985
Nickname: Charles "Turkey" Hughes (More)
Additional Photos: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Game by Game Statistics
Kentucky Career Notes:
Multi-Sport Player [Football, Baseball and Track]
Post-UK Career Notes:
State of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame
| Season | Games Played | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1923-24 | 16 | 21 |
| 1924-25 | 12 | 8 |
| Total | 28 | 29 |
Obituary - EKU Coach and Administrator Dies, Berea Citizen (September 5, 1985)
At EKU, Hughes coached five sports (football, basketball, baseball, track and tennis), as many as three at once. He was Eastern's Director of Athletics for 23 years and Chairman of Department of Health and Physical Education for 27 years. Hughes retired on December 31, 1971.
During the 30 years he coached EKU's baseball teams. Hughes won nearly 350 games and claimed eight Ohio Valley Conference championships. The Eastern baseball diamond bears his name.
Hughes was among 15 inductees into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in April 1975.
Although a native of Crittenden County, Hughes attended high school at Elkton in Todd County where he became a star football, basketball and baseball player. It was however, track, a sport he never participated in at high school, that got him into college at the University of Kentucky.
The story goes that Hughes was asked if he would like to attend a state track meet at UK in Lexington. He said yes, but was forced to go alone because his coach couldn't afford to make the trip. Anyway, Hughes scored 12 points in the meet, enough for a second place finish for his school.
One of those in attendance was former Kentucky Athletic Director S.A. "Daddy" Boles. He was so impressed with Hughes that he offered him a job on campus (the closest thing to a scholarship in the 1920s) if he would attend UK.
Hughes wound up being one of the most versatile athletes ever seen at Kentucky. He was the first UK athlete ever to win letters in four different sports (football, basketball, baseball and track). There has only been one other Kentucky athlete accomplish that feat and that was Ellis Johnson in 1933.
While playing football for the Wildcats in 1924. Hughes intercepted a pass and returned it 98 yards for a TD against an Alabama team that hadn't been defeated or scored upon. The feat was a national record, but was followed by a Crimson Tide touchdown on the ensuing kickoff when Johnny Mack Brown broke free for a 100-yard return.
When questioned about the deed, Hughes always referred to the interception as one of his biggest mistakes because it made Alabama mad and it rallied to whip UK 42-7.
Never let if be said that Hughes didn't watch his teams' finances. He would often make his players take box lunches on bus trips instead of eating at restaurants.
Once in a restaurant Hughes discovered when he went to pay the bill that one of his players had eaten a second serving of strawberry shortcake. He paid the bill, but wouldn't let the bus leave until the guilty party paid up.
When his team was playing baseball, Hughes often ran down those who tried to make off with a foul ball.
Hughes was instrumental in the formation of the OVC and served as the league's first president.
In his spare time, Hughes made furniture.
Hughes is survived by his wife Mable (Peggy) Gahagen Hughes, two sons, Charles and Allen; two brothers Finis T. Hughes and George E. Hughes and five grandchildren.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond where funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday. Donald Feltner, EKU vice president for university relations and development, and Eastern head football coach Roy Kidd were among the pallbearers.
