The University of Louisville Alumni Association has named Dr. Robert C. Hughes of Murray the 2014 Alumnus of the Year, and he will be honored this weekend during the universitys homecoming festivities.

Hughes is a managing partner and co-founder of Primary Care Medical Center in Murray, where he practices family medicine with his wife, Dr. Joyce M. Forsthoefel Hughes. He currently serves as chair of the U of L Board of Trustees, and he said he was re-elected as chair at last months board meeting. He said board members are eligible to serve as chair for two one-year terms.

Im deeply honored, Hughes said Thursday morning on his cell phone while driving to Louisville to speak at that evenings Alumni Awards dinner. Ive been on the board nine years and Im an alumnus of the School of Medicine, and theres 134,000 alumni out there, many of whom I assume are probably maybe more worthy of such (awards). I dont know, but obviously, Im deeply honored by it. Its the biggest honor the university gives out to their alumni.

Alumni Fellows are also honored by 11 schools and colleges every year, but Alumnus of the Year covers the entire university. The U of L Alumni Association established the Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award and the Alumni Fellows program in 1983 to recognize graduates who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and are exemplary ambassadors for the university and their college or school, the alumni website said.

According to the website, Hughes served as the boards vice chair for two years and has been on the executive committee for six years. He has been active on the board of numerous medical and civic organizations and also chaired the U of L Foundation and the academic and student affairs committee.

Hughes received his M.D. from the U of L School of Medicine in 1981. In 1982, he completed an internship in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the School of Medicine, and served in 1984 as chief resident in the department of family practice and as an assistant clinical professor.

Hughes also holds degrees from Prestonsburg Community College and Transylvania University. In 1996, he completed a physician entrepreneurship at the Kellogg Graduate School of Business executive program and a fellowship in disease management from the Medical College of Virginia in 2000.

As part of the weekend festivities, Hughes will come out with U of L President Dr. James R. Ramsey on the 50-yard-line during halftime at Saturdays football game against North Carolina State University. Banners with Hughes photo were also draped on the side of a building on the main Belknap campus and at the School of Medicine.

Hughes said he believed this was the first time that anyone living outside the Frankfort, Louisville and Lexington area often referred to as the golden triangle had been board chair and Alumnus of the Year. He said things were going very well at U of L right now, and he credits that to Ramsey, his administration and the faculty.

They make the job of chair easy by what they do, he said.

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Murrays Hughes named 2014 U of L Alumnus of the Year