Hughes Lecture Series

The Hughes Lecture Series began in 1978 and is named after Dr. Raymond Hughes. A beloved professor of English at West Liberty for nearly four decades, his generous endowment gift established a fund for the series. Thanks to this fund, the series has brought a wide range of authors and speakers to WLU, including: 

 

  • Eugene McCarthy, U. S. Senator and presidential candidate in 1968
  • Ted Kooser, U.S. Poet Laureate
  • Homer Hickam, West Virginia writer and NASA scientist
  • Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle
  • Artboard 7
    Professor Raymond Hughes

The 2021 Hughes Lecture Series will take place on Wednesday, April 21 via Zoom. 

Professor Raymond Hughes:

Dr. Raymond Grove Hughes was born on May 29, 1900 in southwestern Pennsylvania. As a child, Hughes contracted polio which left him unable to walk, but he never let his physical challenges prevent him from pursuing a fulfilling life. Professor Hughes’s teaching career at West Liberty spanned from 1931 until his retirement in 1970. At West Liberty, Dr. Hughes advised several fraternities, performed with the Hilltop Players, helped students who were struggling to pay tuition, and brought students along on his many travels.

Past Hughes Lecture Series Speakers