Harold Hughes

Harold McKinley Hughes, 89, of Midland, passed away on Friday, June 18, 2021. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 25, 2021 from 5:00-7:00PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 11:00AM at Resthaven Cemetery. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 2:00PM at First Presbyterian Church in Midland.

Harold was born on February 27, 1932 to Esther “Pauline” and Hobart Hughes in Nampa, Idaho. In his youth, he was constantly working. He delivered telegrams for Western Union by bicycle 365 days a year as a teenager (including in Idaho winters!) He worked 5 summers in an ice plant for the railroad, breaking up and loading 400 lb blocks of ice onto train cars to refrigerate fruits and vegetables. He worked at his father’s second hand store where at age 19 he was once held hostage at gunpoint for 3 hours until successfully negotiating his own release from his captor.

When he was 14 years old he met Carol Louise Myers and they married seven years later in 1953. In 1954, he graduated from Northwest Nazarene College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He served in the Army in Korea in 1955 and 1956. After rejoining his wife Carol, and young son Walden, in San Antonio Texas, both he and Carol taught at the Nazarene Bible Institute and later at Kirby Elementary School. Harold earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Trinity University in 1964.

The family, which now included two sons, moved to Lindsay California, where Harold began his career as a High School Counselor. He was subsequently drafted to become the Business Manager of the struggling Lindsay School District. After turning the district around, he became Business Manager of the Manteca Unified School District in 1970. When he arrived, the district had been through 4 Business Managers in 5 years. The head of the teacher’s union told him, “Don’t unpack your bags. You won’t last long.”

He spent 25 years in the district as Business Manager, Assistant Superintendent of Business, Associate Superintendent of Business, Deputy Superintendent, and finally eight and a half years as Superintendent. During his tenure as Superintendent, he oversaw construction of the District’s first new schools in 25 years. He built seven schools in eight and a half years and all were on time and under budget.

In 1992 he received the award for California Superintendent of the Year for Vocational Education. In 1993, he received the Lifetime Professional Achievement Award from the Northwest Nazarene University Alumni Association.

He retired from Manteca Unified School District in 1994. Both before and after retirement, Harold served on numerous boards for charities, churches, and credit unions. He also served as President of Manteca Rotary and later as Rotary Area Representative. His wisdom, judgment, wit, and good humor were always highly valued by those around him.

In 2001 Harold and Carol moved to Midland, Texas where they became faithful members of First Presbyterian Church and made many, many good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hobart and Esther Pauline Hughes, his brother Reverend Don Hughes, and his son, Dr. Walden Hughes. He is survived by his faithful and loving wife of 68 years, Carol Louise Hughes, son Marlon Hughes, MD (Lisa), and six Grandchildren: Camden Hughes (Cara), Kendra Miyauchi (Kyle), Marshall Hughes (Leah), Loyal Hughes (Kaitlyn), Carson Hughes (Suzanne), and Walden Hughes. He is also survived by Great Grandchildren Quincy and Wesley Miyauchi, Benjamin and Elsie Hughes, and Olivia Hughes as well as two great grandchildren soon to be born.

Harold was a faithful follower of Christ to his death. He was loved by his family and respected by all who knew him. He will be missed.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.