Hugman Jr., George R.
   	
GLADEWATER -- A funeral Mass for Dr. George R. Hugman Jr. will 
be 11 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2006, at St. Theresa's Catholic 
Church with Father Ron Demski officiating. Burial will be in 
Rosedale Cemetery. A vigil scripture service will be 7 p.m. today, 
December 10, 2006, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Father 
Michael Doyle officiating. Visitation will follow. Born in Boerne, 
Texas, March 11, 1926, to George R. Hugman Sr. and Margaret 
Kronkosky Hugman, he entered into eternal rest Friday, December 8, 
2006, at his residence. He attended public schools in Boerne, and 
as a child of the Depression, he learned to work in his family's 
service station and cafe, while standing on a box to wash dishes. 
His personal history illustrates his leadership and desire to help 
others. He attended St. Anthony's High School in San Antonio for 
three years but graduated from Boerne High School. He joined the 
U.S. Navy at 17. After testing, the Navy sent him to Officers 
School, known as the V-12 program. The initial program was at 
Southwestern Louisiana University and then continued at Tulane 
University in New Orleans, where he received a bachelor of science 
degree in psychology. He then served as an ensign on the destroyer 
USS Beatty. He was in this capacity during the historic episode 
told in the move "Exodus." The Beatty was assigned to escort the 
European Jewish refugees on ships that were transporting them to 
Palestine. This scene of tragedy left an indelible impression on 
him. Following Navy service, he worked as an insurance investigator 
to earn money to put himself through medical school. Savings and the 
G.I. Bill made the dream of becoming a physician possible. He 
continued to work while in medical school, graduating in the top 10 
percent of his class at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 
Galveston. He served his family medicine residency at St. Joseph's 
Hospital in Fort Worth. While in medical school, he married Joyce 
Elaine Plummer of Galveston. Dr. and Mrs. Hugman and their sons 
moved to Gladewater in 1958, and he began working at Leake Clinic 
and Hospital. After five years, he opened his own office and was 
active on the staff of Gladewater Municipal Hospital. He delivered 
many of Gladewater's citizens during 15 years of obstetrics practice, 
which he discontinued because of the heavy load. He contributed to 
Gladewater's economy by providing the best medical care locally for 
46 years and recruiting numerous doctors to this area. For some 
families in the area, he was physician and friend for four generations. 
He especially enjoyed dancing, boating, tennis, water-skiing and 
quality time spent with his family. For many individuals, he was a 
role model to emulate. His community service focused on providing 
quality education and youth activities for local youngsters. He was 
an elected member of the Gladewater Independent School District Board 
of Education for 18 year and served as president for one year. Dr. 
Hugman advocated many changes, especially in the care and treatment of 
athletes, strengthening the mathematics and science curriculum. He 
pushed for the passage of the bond issue that provided the citizens of 
Gladewater with a new high school and stadium. A 44-year veteran of the 
Gladewater Rotary Club, he was a Paul Harris fellow. For 38 years, he 
was a member of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce, and in 2002, he was 
honored as Gladewater's man of the year. As president of the Gregg 
County Medical Society in 1963, he was responsible for organizing the 
county's mass immunization of the population with the Salk polio vaccine, 
overcoming some who opposed the plan. On a designated Sunday, volunteer 
doctors, nurses and support staff administered the vaccine in different 
locations throughout Longview and Gladewater. For it to be effective, it 
had to be administered at the same time to as many as would accept. As a 
nationwide vaccination drive, it was free of charge, and the rest is 
history. Polio was eliminated in the United States. Dr. Hugman was a 
44-year member of the Texas Academy of Family Practice and the American 
Academy of Family Practice. He served on many committees for the 
organization and was on the board of directors of the Texas Academy of 
Family Physicians for two terms. Through his family, church and civic 
activities, he gave of himself unselfishly. Dr. Hugman is survived by his 
wife and dance partner of 52 years, Joyce Plummer Hugman of Gladewater; 
sons and their wives, Dr. George R. Hugman III and Lou Ellen of Nacogdoches, 
James R. Hugman and Anne of Longview, and Christopher Evan Hugman and Lisa 
of Austin; daughter, Elaine Berringer and husband, John, of San Antonio; 
grandsons, Luke Hugman of College Station, Michael Berringer of San Antonio, 
and Robert Hugman of Longview; granddaughters, Rachel Hugman of San Antonio, 
Elissa Hugman of Longview, Elizabeth Berringer of San Antonio, Jennifer 
Berringer of San Antonio, Heather Hugman of Austin and Claire Hugman of 
Austin. In addition, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Jack 
and Ellen Hugman of San Marcos; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Lee 
Dulac of Walnut Creek, Calif.; special relatives, Norma and Dr. Warren Hunt 
of Gladewater; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be grandsons 
and nephews, Michael Berringer, Robert Hugman, Dr. Joseph Pistone, Evan 
Farrington, Larry Westbrook, Marc Westbrook, Mike Hugman, Tom Walsh and Rick 
Plummer. It so desired, memorials may be made to the Scholarship Fund of the 
Ladies Guild of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, c/o Sandy Tuttle, 5422 FM 1844, 
Gladewater, TX 75647.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 12/10/2006.