The late Harry Walker Hughes served for forty-two years at Colorado A & M (Colorado State University), and no other man contributed more to regional athletics as football coach, Athletic Director and molder of young men. Hughes stadium on the campus at Fort Collins brought six football championships to the school from 1915 through 1927. It was for these and his other athletic endeavors that Hughes was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.
Hughes wielded a strong influence in the formation of the Skyline Conference. The Aggies were members of the twelve-team Rocky Mountain Conference, but, in the early 1930’s seven members—Colorado A & M, Colorado University, Denver University, Wyoming and three Utah schools—split from it to form a new conference.
He retired as football coach in 1941 to devote all of his energy to Athletic Director. As the “Dean”, he had the longest continuous service at one school of any of his contemporaries.
A recognized national authority on every phase of football, he was a member of the national rules committee for many years. Under his tutelage, the Aggies produced innumerable stars, and a number of his players went on to coaching positions at the high school and college level.
He left his mark as coach in track and field, too. His prize pupil was Olympic Decathlon gold medalist Glenn Morris, who was also a stellar on the football team.
No other man contributed more to regional athletics as football coach, Athletic Director and molder of young men.