• Golden Bears hockey team manager, winning three consecutive WCIAU Championships.
• Vice-chair of the University Athletic Board; received the Gold A ring, the highest student recognition awarded.
• Served as Edmonton's chief commissioner of public affairs and as a director of the Edmonton Exhibition Association. Involved with the openings of Commonwealth Stadium and Northlands Coliseum.
• Involved in the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 1983 Universiade, and the 2001 World Championships in Athletics.
• Director of Alberta Lotteries (1976-95), founding president of Sport Central, a member of the Edmonton Sports Wall of Fame, and a recipient of the U of A Distinguished Professional Lifetime Achievement Award.

Builders of sports programs and sport/recreation facilities develop a love for such activities early in life and retain it throughout their careers. George Hughes is one such man, a builder par excellence. His legacy to the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta and Canada were recognized by our nation when he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Contributions to Canada. George started down the path toward national recognition when he entered the University of Alberta in 1945 and joined the Golden Bear hockey program as equipment and team manager. ln those years before national championships his teams won the highest recognition available to them - three consecutive WCIAU championships. His classmates recognized his leadership talents and elated George to the Student Union as well as to the position of Vice Chairman of the University Athletic Beard (1949-1950). That year he received the Gold A Ring Award -the highest student recognition available.

The decades of the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s marked a period of major growth in sports programs and sports facilities in Edmonton and George Hughes was a pivotal figure throughout these years. From 1971-1976 he served the City of Edmonton as Commissioner of Public Affairs, and then Chief Commissioner. In that capacity, he also served as a Director on the Board of the Edmonton Exhibition Association. As a Commissioner he was involved in the development of eight ice arenas under the Canada-Alberta Infrastructure program - all eight arenas opened during a special ceremony on January 30 1973. In his dual role he was involved in the development of the Coliseum, which opened in 1974. George became the General Manager of Edmonton Exhibition Association (later to become Edmonton Northlands) in 1976, overseeing the development of the AgriCom which opened in 1984. He was also a founding director of the 1978 Commonwealth Games and involved in the initial development of the Commonwealth Stadium, which hosted that event as well as later events such as the1983 Universiade and the Edmonton 2001 World Championship in Athletics.

George Hughes served as a Director of Alberta Lotteries from 1976 to 1995; an organization that helped fund many Alberta sport facilities and which today funds the Community Facilities Enhancement Program. From 1953 to 1975 George was involved with Little League Baseball (LLB), serving as District Administrator, Canadian President, and on the Board of LLB International. He later partnered in the organization of Sport Central, served as its Founding President (1991-1996), Secretary, and Board Director (1996-2005). Sport Central has assisted thousands of young people in playing sports by recycling hundreds of thousands of pieces of sports equipment.

In 1997 George Hughes again directed his energies to the support of the University of Alberta. He became the Founding Director of the Bar None Endowment Fund for the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economic. He and his colleagues set a target to raise $1 million and are well on the way to their goal. His unflagging zeal and outstanding.

Leadership has been recognized in many ways; he is a member of Edmonton's Sports Hall of Fame, Hockey Alberta's Hall of Fame, Vegreville's Sports Hall of Fame, and a winner of the University of Alberta Distinguished Professional Achievement Award. George is also a Life Member of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, Ottewell Community League, Hockey Alberta, Little League Baseball Canada, and the Yellowhead Highway Association. George Hughes is clearly an outstanding builder of sports programs and sports facilities. The University of Alberta is proud to add his name to the Sports Wall of Fame.