Evan Henry Hughes

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 9, 2010 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Evan Henry Hughes, 96, who passed away on April 6, 2010 at Kingsley Place at Lafayette. Reverend Fred Fraser, Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Lafayette, will conduct the funeral services. Interment will take place in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Hughes, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Evan Henry Hughes of Wales, England and the former Maude Kessel of Liverpool, England. Evan came from New York in 1947. He attended Grade, Grammer, Stuyvestant High School and City College in New York with basic radio training and promotional background acquired at Columbia and New York University, with air and hands-on training at WNYC, WHN, WOR, Mutual and National Broadcasting Blue Network. Hughes family resided in New York, although he was born in Wales, with family returning in 1914. He was active in Lafayette radio from 1947 to 1974 announcing, news casting, program director, station and general manager and co-ownership at KVOL and Jackson, TN, Mobile, AL, Gainsville and Brunswick, GA with a sabbatical in television in Jackson, MS, followed by radio consulting 1975-1985. After more than 40 active years he was tagged as the Dean of Lafayette Broadcasting widely known for the intro "Evan Hughes and The News". Accredited with many first for Acadiana and S.W. Louisiana Broadcasting innovations now in today's radio: Remote Programs of special and civic events, live sports events, tape delayed programs and bi-lingual weather newscast and personalized public service and commercial messages. South Louisiana Network of French News, Political, Religious, and Election coverage. Contemporary format of recordings and the first dee-jay personalities with the advent of top thirty selections, weekly music sheet, and Lafayette's first black D.J. the late Paul Thibeau, known widely as "The house-rocker" first mobile and on-site broadcast units. Hughes received two NBC National Promotion awards. He was past board member of KERR Music top 40 New York. He was the recipient of the #1 award for record selections. He was a past board member of the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, and conducted on behalf of the membership seminars for license renewals, Equal Opportunity Employment, F.C.C. rules and regulations, guidelines for inspections and loggings. Editorial acknowledgement for contributions on Acadiana Broadcasters and personalities for 50th edition of Louisiana Association of Broadcasters 1948-1998 commemorative issue. Hughes served over 4 years in WWII, in the army second service command, Staff Sgt., out of Governor's Island, N.Y. with duties covering P.O.E. at Shanago Calle, PA and Ft. Lewis, WA. In the service, he worked with entertainment enlisted and NCO and Officer's Club, with free lance radio at Tacoma and Seattle. He was separated from the service in February of 1946 at Ft. Lewis, WA. Upon leaving the service, he rejoined commercial radio working in NC for six months regaining that on the air feeling and microphone presence. He visited Lafayette in the late spring, checking the Bayou water and moved to the south in the late 1947. He was a past chapter member of the Lafayette Exchange Club. He was a past board member and sponsor of Jr. Achievers. He was the past president of the Catholic Youth Organization. He was a past board member of United Givers and the Chamber of Commerce. He was a Member of the First United Methodist Church., Masonic Lodge, Hope #145, chapter member of Habibi Shrine Temple, Lake Charles. He was a member of Oakborne Country Club. He aided editors of O.C.C. '98 background history "Acorns to Oakbourne". He assisted in numerous radio promotions, and programs for civic, social, religious, U.S.L., City and Parish, Safely Council, Red Cross, Cancer Crusade, American Heart Association, Toys for Tots, Evangeline Boys Scouts Council, M.S., Christmas Seals, Easter Seals, Food Drive. Recipient and Club of Acadiana Man of the Year. Appearances on KPEL, Prime Time with Bob Hamm, part of feature, Lafayette Daily Advertiser "Acadiana on Air" November 1996 and the Times feature on radio Roulette, march of 1997, Lafayette. Full feature back-cover 8-10, color photo behalf Lafayette General Medical Center, Wellness P.R.40 thousand issue mailer and gratis copies February 1999. Anybody and everybody in radio that came through the area was influenced by Mr. Hughes as he touched everybody in the broadcast business. He was deeply committed to radio and devoted almost all of his time to the industry. Hughes was a stickler for detail. He had a no nonsense attitude and a sharp wit and dry humor. He was a private man who was an excellent dancer and loved to dance with his wife, Betty. He is survived by five nieces, Irene Fishwick Kappes of Orlando Fl, Sheila Chatelain Chiasson of Lafayette, LA, Sue Bunton of Georgetown, TX, Jean Minnick of OK, and Claudia Munoz of Denver, CO; two nephews, Charles Chatelain of Carencro, LA and Cack Roller of Lindsey, OK; and numerous great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty Jo Shewmake Hughes, and two sisters, Irene Hughes Fishwick, and Lillian Hughes Cal Veley. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Friday, April 9, 2010, from 9:00 am until the time of services. Pallbearers will be Charles Chatelain, Lynn Stevens, Mike Mitchell, William Mouton, Robert Reed and Jerry Meador. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ernie Alexander, Ron Gomez, Dr. Paul Azar, Jr., Dave Pierce, Scott Chiasson, and Blaine Chiasson. Special thanks to Elvie Delahoussaye, Ginger and Bob Reed, Betty and Jerry Meador, the staff at Journey Hospice as well as the staff at Kingsley Place for their compassion and care for Mr. Hughes during his time of need Personal condolences may be sent to the Hughes family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Evan Henry Hughes

October 25, 1913 - April 6, 2010