HUGHES, Dick F.

HUGHES, BALEK, MINER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 8/17/2013 at 23:06:17

DICK F. HUGHES

CLEAR LAKE - Dick F. Hughes, 76, of 114 N. Lakeview Drive, died Thursday (May 29, 1997) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center's East Campus, Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with Monsignor Joseph J. Slepicka officiating. Burial will be in Clear Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1005 Ninth Ave S., with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Scriptural Wake service at 7 p.m. The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

Dick was born Nov. 10, 1920, in Mason City, the son of William and Carrie (Balek) Hughes. He graduated from Holy Family Catholic School in Mason City.

He opened a fruit market in Mason City before going into the bowling business. He started Dick's Bowling Alley in Mason City, then opened The Rose Bowl, on Mason City's south side, in 1964. He continued to own and operate the popular bowling alley with his wife until his retirement in 1995.

Dick was a skilled bowler who was honored for his play, as well as his promotion of the sport. In 1960, Dick posted a 788 series in City Association play that included 25 strikes and games of
276, 274 and 238.

He was a past president of the Iowa Bowling Proprietors Association and served as director of the National Bowling Proprietors Association for several years. He was a member of the BPA for 36 years. In 1995, Dick was inducted into the Iowa Bowling Hall of Fame.

Dick and his wife moved to Clear Lake in 1969 and he was involved in many civic activities. He served on the Clear Lake City Council for 12 years, leading various committees in that position.

He was admired by fellow council members, as well as his constituents, for his dedication to his job as a councilman. Almost daily, he would travel through the town, looking firsthand at the city's
infrastructure. He was considered to be a conservative voice on the council who believed strongly in holding the line on taxes.

In his 12 years on the council, Dick never accepted the $25 per meeting honorarium given to members. Instead, he put the money in a special account and recently donated the $7,000 which
had accumulated to the city for the construction of a city garage to house police cars.

Dick was chairman for the North Iowa Area Council of Governments board of directors. He also enjoyed membership in the Clear Lake Rotary Club, Elk's, Eagles Lodge and Moose Lodge in Mason City.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Clear Lake and fourth degree member of the Monsignor Dougherty Council of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene Hughes, of Clear Lake; a sister, Kathryn Miner of Mason City; and special friend, Chuck Spillett of Clear Lake.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother; and his first wife, Rose.