Hughes celebrated by supportive colleagues, friends, students
After serving almost 40 years at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), Chief of Staff Randy Hughes retired Saturday, July 31. A reception was held in honor of Hughes at the Founder’s Room on Wednesday, July 28.
Hughes, an alumnus of TAMUK, was an instructor, Department Chair in Health and Kinesiology, Vice President of Advancement, Chief of Staff and led the University’s Covid-19 Response Team.
“Randy is a Javelina alumnus, a highly respected member of our community, and a passionate champion for Texas A&M-Kingsville,” President Mark Hussey said. “He has been a leader, a counselor, and a mentor to generations of Javelinas. His contributions to this university are vast and too many to name.”
During the reception, Hughes was greeted by friends, colleagues, former students and his wife Belinda.
Belinda Hughes, alumnus and TAMUK retiree, met Randy in 1971 when they were both college students. They have been together for 50 years and married for 48 years.
“My husband is a very people person,” Belinda said. “He loves to be involved in athletics and people of all kinds…When he meets somebody new, he asks them 20 questions; he likes to get to know them.”
Belinda is looking forward to spending more time with her husband and doing more activities together.
“I’m very excited that he’s retiring, he’s worked hard and he’s feeling like it’s time,” Belinda said.
Hughes is known by his colleagues and students as a person who positively impacts and inspires other people’s lives. Raquel Garcia, hired by Hughes 10 years ago, knew him particularly as an inspiring motivator.
“It’s been a long time and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” Raquel Garcia said. “I always enjoyed the motivation he always sets. When I had first started working with him, I had just started going to school coming in as a non-traditional student. He would tell me ‘just keep going.’”
Impacting and changing the lives of every student was Randy’s goal. The students, in fact, would be the aspect of the university that he will miss most.
“The best thing we have here is our students,” Randy said. “They make me get up and go to work and when I see them at commencement it is the best day. I have a certain number of students that are here today that are staff members, so it is a pretty special time.”
Henry Burgos, Dr. Nirmal Goswami, Coach Johnny Estelle, Adriana Garza-Flores and President Hussey finished off the reception by dedicating their speeches to Randy and Belinda Hughes. President Hussey presented the first certificate of retirement to Hughes.
“Randy has been a trusted member of my team from the start. When I first arrived on campus, he shared many insights about our institution and community. One in particular stands out—when discussing the legacy and mission of our institution, Randy said, ‘We change lives.’ It is a truth that I have seen in action every day, and I remain grateful to him for sharing his perception,” President Hussey said. “There is no doubt that this University is a better place because of Randy’s dedication, and I want to thank him for his service and support.”