Edmund W. Hughes, Ph.D.

Edmund Winston Hughes, of Kansas City, died peacefully in his sleep at Kingswood Manor on August 24, 2012.

Ed was born April 16, 1931, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was devoted to his loving wife of 59 years, Vee, whom he met in high school. Ed graduated from the University of Alabama in 1953 with a degree in journalism. He later earned his Ph.D. in education administration at Georgia State University.

He was an intelligence officer in the Air Force in Korea and retired as a Captain. During the desegregation era, he was a reporter and later editorial writer for the Atlanta Journal, where he won several journalistic awards. Ed was Director of the Atlanta and Georgia Safety Councils, and Manager of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. As Vice President for Urban Affairs of Georgia State University, he was instrumental in the creation of their law school.

He was president of American Humanics in Kansas City. He was Country Director of the Peace Corps in Belize and Jamaica. Ed was a member of Rotary Club 13, Country Club UMC, SOR, SAE, Town and Country Investors, OFOs, and ROMEOs. He was a lifelong birdwatcher with a life list of over 500 birds. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, and traveling the world with his wife.

He is survived by his wife, Vee. He is survived also by three children: James "Jim" (Marie) Hughes of Oldsmar, Florida; Judy (Eric) Hallowell of Arnold, Maryland; and Sally (Andy) Haynes of Blue Springs, Missouri: seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012, at Country Club United Methodist Church, 57th Street and Wornall Road, followed by a reception.

Memorial gifts may be made to Country Club United Methodist Church or Kingswood Manor Foundation.