- Name
- Lowell Hughes
- Position
- Guard
- Class
- JR
- Hometown (Last School)
- Prestonsburg, KY (High)
- Ht
- 6'0"
- Wt
- 175
- Seasons
- 1957-58, 1958-59
- Birthday
- February 26, 1938
Lowell Hughes was born Lowell Thurman Hughes in Prestonsburg, Kentucky on February 26, 1938, to John Thurman Hughes and Gladys Jean Stambaugh Hughes.
Lowell Hughes was a distinguished three-sport athlete at the University of Kentucky during the late 1950s, excelling in basketball, football, and baseball. Born in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Hughes was recognized as a schoolboy All-America quarterback and also earned All-State honors in basketball at Prestonsburg High School with a 40.2 scoring average—second only to the record set by Kelly Coleman in 1956.
Lowell turned down a reported fat baseball contract offered by the Giants in his senior year at Prestonsburg High in the Eastern Kentucky mountains to play football at Kentucky so he could follow in his brother Delmar’s footsteps.
Hughes played as a guard for the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team. Standing 6 feet tall, he contributed to the team’s national championship during the 1957–58 season as a sophomore. That season, he appeared in seven games for a total of 37:03 minutes and scored 23 points. Hughes averaged a point every minute and a half. His varsity high was six points in the Utah State game. His basketball high point production was 29 as a freshman against Lee’s Junior College on December 15, 1956.
In addition to basketball, Hughes was the starting quarterback for the Kentucky Wildcats football team. His exceptional performance on the field earned him All-SEC Sophomore team honors in 1957.
Hughes also played for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team, showcasing his versatility and athleticism across multiple sports.
After his collegiate athletic career, Hughes graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School. He served two terms in the Kentucky State Senate, contributing to public service. In 1982, he moved to Florida to manage a horse farm, continuing his involvement in the equestrian community.
Hughes was one of only six three-sport lettermen at Kentucky since World War II, highlighting his exceptional athletic abilities. He passed away at the age of 81 on September 8, 2019, in Ocala, Florida.
