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April 23, 2020A new athletic scholarship has been established at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School to honor the memory of Frank C. Hughes, a well-known coach and educator in the 1960s and 1970s.
Following his time at McGuinness, Hughes went on to be an administrator at Del City High School and worked with the Western Heights School District in Oklahoma City. He ended his career as a counselor at Rose State College in 2001. Born in Shawnee in 1935, Hughes earned a degree from East Central University in Ada in 1960. He began his professional career at McGuinness later that year.
Hughes died in November at age 84. His funeral Mass was held at his parish, Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.
It was at McGuinness where Hughes left his mark as a teacher, head football coach and later athletic director. Among his many accomplishments was his key role in getting Bishop McGuinness as well as Bishop Kelley Catholic High School in Tulsa, admitted to the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. Prior to that, private Catholic schools were not allowed membership.
Hughes also had a unique connection with Bishop Kelley High School. He was the grandnephew of Francis Clement Kelley, Oklahoma's second bishop and namesake of the Tulsa Catholic high school.
According to Bishop McGuinness Principal David Morton, scholarships can not be earmarked exclusively for athletics. Rather all scholarships are part of a general scholarship fund, and then given to students according to need.
"We're sure the fund will grow over time and former players and students will donate," Morton said.
Although Morton never worked directly with Hughes, he met him on different occasions.
"Frank was a great guy and a man of faith," Morton said. "After he left here, he would still come back for some of the games. He was a big part of the McGuinness family."
His daughter, one of his three children, agreed with that assessment.
"When my dad passed away, we heard from so many of his former students," she said. "He touched so many young lives."
The family is hoping the scholarships will help provide student athletes the chance to succeed.
To learn more about the scholarship or to contribute, go online to www.frankchughes.com.
Steve Gust is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
