Last Updated on January 23, 2017 by cassnetwork
Dr. Ted Byron Hughes, 88, of Logansport passed away at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 20, 2017, at The Springs Health Campus, Lafayette.
Ted was born March 29, 1928 in Michigan City to the late Ted Morgan and Anna Grace (Thompson) Hughes. He attended grammar school in Liberty Township and in 1946 graduated from high school in Buffalo.
Following high school, Ted enlisted in the 11th Airborne Division of the United States Army, serving in Japan until 1948. After returning from Japan, Ted enrolled in the Ball State Teacher’s College, majoring in Mathematics, Physics and Industrial Technologies.
On July 16, 1950, Ted married H. Juanita Graham, daughter of John and Esther Miller Graham, at her parents’ home near Lake Cicott. In 1952, Ted graduated from Ball State and the couple welcomed the arrival of their first son, Graham. The family continued to grow with the birth of their second child, Taunya Ann, in 1954 and moved to Cass County where Ted began teaching at Washington Township High School. While teaching, Ted enrolled as a part time student at Purdue University where he received his Masters of Science in Educational Administration. Shortly thereafter, the couple’s third child, Garth, arrived in 1957.
In 1958, Ted became the principal at Metea and in 1960 began teaching at Fairview. 1962-64 was an extremely busy time for Ted, his time was divided between the roles of Assistant Superintendent at Delphi and in the Office of Business Management at MSD Wayne Township in Indianapolis. During this time, Ted re-enrolled at Purdue University where, in 1963, he earned a Ph.D. in School Administration and welcomed the couple’s fourth child, Garland.
For the next two years, Ted served as Assistant Superintended for Business Affairs in District 219 in Skokie, Illinois. The couple moved back to the Lafayette area in 1966 where Ted was the Assistant Superintendent of Business Management for the Lafayette School Corporation until 1969.
Though mostly a very happy time for Ted and his family, they experienced loss as well when the couple’s first son, Graham, died tragically at the age of 20 in 1973.
From 1969 to 1987, Ted served as the Superintendent of the Logansport Community School Corporation. During Ted’s time as Superintendent the Logansport Community School Corporation experienced a period of great growth and change. Ted’s leadership during this time provides a glimpse into his love for his community and his dedication to children. Throughout his career in education, he also served as an adjunct faculty member at Northern Illinois University, Purdue University and Indiana University-Kokomo.
Ted was a long-time member of the American Association of School Administration, where he served on the Federal Policy and Legislative Committees. From 1970-1974, he served as the executive committee chairman with the Wabash Valley Education Center. Ted was also a member of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents where he served as Chairman of the Policies and Resolutions Committee and later as Association President in 1982. Ted was appointed
to the State Welfare Board by Governor Robert D. Orr in 1984 and served as its President from 1985-86. Governor Evan Bayh named Ted a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1990.
Following his retirement from the Logansport Community School Corporation in 1987, Ted spent the next twenty-four years working as an educational consultant for NEOLA, Inc. of Stowe, Ohio.
After more than a half century, four children, six grandchildren and countless happy memories and experiences together, Ted lost his wife of 56 years, Juanita, on September 17, 2006.
In January of 2007, Ted married Patricia Swank nee Weaver. The two had been next-door neighbors for a number of years and bonded over the experience of losing a spouse to terminal illness. They spent 10 happy years together. She survives in Logansport.
Ted’s impact on education reached far beyond the borders of his local community and state, he also served as the School Superintendent Chairman of the Board for the Joint Military/Education Liaison Commission for the U.S. Departments of Education and Defense and on the Educational Commission for All Voluntary Military Force. Ted twice received appointments to the President’s Conference on Education.
Ted was a ruling elder with the Calvary Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher, and leader of the Men’s Bible study group. He had served as president of the Rotary Club of Logansport and had served as a board member of the Logansport YMCA, the Youth Service Bureau and as a past Chairman of the Cass County United Way, the Sagamore Council Boy Scouts of America and Scouting for the Handicapped. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 60 and the Logansport Elks Lodge.
Along with his wife Patricia, Ted is survived by his children: Taunya Ismail of Lafayette, Garth and Donna Hughes of Reelsville, Dr. Garland and Laurie Hughes of Hickory, North Carolina and Grahams wife Nancy Hughes of Lafayette; his four sisters: Wilma Sheroan of Monticello, Barbara Reagan of California, Marilyn Waldrop of Phoenix, Arizona and Sharon Miller of Elkhart; and his grandchildren, Derek and Kyra Rapisarda, Larisa and Cooper Hughes, Graham and his wife, Sarah, and Brenham Hughes. Ted is also survived by Patricia’s children: Dr. Bill and Catherine Fawcett, and David Swank, and her grandchildren: John, Christena, Susan and Ashley Fawcett.
In addition to his parents, wife Juanita and son Graham, Ted was preceded in death by five siblings: Burnita Hughes, Marlene King, Joseph Hughes, Jack Hughes and an infant brother. Ted was also preceded in death by Patricia’s daughter, Susan Swank.
Friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 24 in Fisher Funeral Chapel.
A funeral service celebrating Ted’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 25 in the funeral chapel with Rev. Chuck Compton and Pastor Andy Weil officiating.
Burial, with full military honors, will be held at Davis Cemetery, near Burnettsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.
You may share memories in his guest book and view his tribute video at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com