Obituary of Philip Hughes

Philip Norman "Phil" Hughes was born March 7, 1935 at St. John Medical Center to the late Seth M. and Mary Leonard Hughes. He passed from this life at the age of 76 after a long battle with heart disease on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, also at St. John Medical Center. Phil was a graduate of Tulsa's Central High School and went on to receive his undergraduate degree from Stanford University. At Stanford Phil was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity where he developed lifelong friendships. Phil met his wife Margie in Los Angeles when they were teenagers. They later married in their early twenties when Phil was a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force while he was stationed in Japan. They soon moved back to Tulsa and have been married for 53 years. Phil was a successful businessman first as the co-owner with his family of the Tulsa Pepsi-Cola franchise, and then later as a Director of MEI Corp. and the COO of MEI Beverage Division which operated dozens of Pepsi franchises throughout the US. In 1981 Phil was named the Beverage Industry's Man-of-the-Year and later was elected President of the National Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association. After retirement Phil co-owned two local businesses: Miller printing and Rocket Lube. During his life, Phil was an active member in the Tulsa business community and was a former director of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, Hillcrest Hospital, Mercantile Bank / BOK, among others. He was also a member of YPO and a lifelong member of Southern Hills Country Club. Phil and Margie loved to travel, whether it was cruising the world's oceans or visiting their favorite spot in Hawaii. Phil was an avid reader, an accomplished scuba diver, and a skilled fly fisherman. He always looked forward to his annual fishing trips. He truly loved his family, his Tulsa friends, and his KA fishing buddies. Later in his life he took great joy in tending to his backyard Koi ponds. Phil is survived by his wife, Margie; his four children and their spouses: Cathy and Jim Hawley of Dallas, Susi and Chris Hughes of Los Angeles, Catherine and Eric Hughes and Tara and Greg Hughes of Tulsa. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Pike, John-Philip, Mary Sage, Alexander, Caroline, Keaton, and the twins, Stella and Tuly; and step-grandchildren, Christian and James Hawley. Phil is also survived by his sister, Leslie Hughes of Carefree, Arizona and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his older brothers, Leonard and Richard. The Hughes family would especially like to thank Dr. Stephen Gawey and Lou Oliver for their kindness and support. Those wishing to make a donation should do so to a charity close to their heart. A service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 South Cincinnati, Tulsa, OK.