Former players, more celebrate the ‘larger than life’ legacy of coach Robert Hughes

Legendary high school basketball head coach Robert Hughes’ life and legacy were celebrated on Robert Hughes court at Fort Worth ISD’s Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center.

Coaches, former Dunbar and I.M. Terrell players, friends, family and more shared how Hughes impacted their lives, the Fort Worth community and high school basketball.

Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, the daughter of Robert Hughes

“He will always be in our hearts, in our minds and in our memories. He was larger than life.”

“He was someone who cared deeply for each and every person that was in his life.”

Jeremis Smith, former professional basketball player who won a state title with Hughes in 2003

Smith mentioned Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verses 10 and 11, as an idea Hughes instilled in him. It reads:

“Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.”

“Everything I do now has coach written all over it. I ask myself the same questions that coach would’ve asked me. Am I outworking my opponent? Am I being true to my craft? Am I prepared? Am I being true to myself?”

“The crazy thing is, there was no secret sauce to it. Coach Hughes was simple. He wanted everything plain vanilla, baby. Nothing he taught was complicated at all. But it also wasn’t easy. It was a process.”

“Without (Hughes), I’m not sure who I would be. I’m not sure what this community would be. I’m not sure what this place (Wilkerson-Greines & Robert Hughes Court) would be.”

“Coach Hughes built a legacy that stands on its own. Coach, your legacy will never die. Everything you did, you did it well.”

“Coach Hughes showed me that you do not have to be a wealthy man to live a rich life.”

Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, who called Hughes the “Tarrant County Treasure”

“We have been fortunate in our life to observe compelling greatness through the passions of this man. His passion for God, for faith, for family, for education and athletics. And for building human capital. Mark him as a great man and a great warrior.”

“A great man has fallen. And when a great man falls there is always a void left behind. … He has left a void because of his vocation. A deliberate choice to use basketball as a tool to build strong, principled, resilient, young black men.”

“A great man has fallen and we may never see his like again. Coach Hughes’ work here is done. But I am persuaded that the Lord will raise up for us another champion. Another man who believes in investing his life’s work in building up others.”

“Coach Hughes is no longer with us. But his legacy of service will inspire and sustain us for all generations.”

Congressman Marc A. Veasey

“There were no accidents with coach Hughes. All of his kids follow the rules. They were well disciplined. They follow with pinpoint execution. Coach Hughes didn’t play any games in his coaching of these young men.”

“Coach Hughes produced so many outstanding players. So many state championships. And was a role model for so many of these young men. A father figure for so many of these young men.”

“The memories of what he has done for the city of Fort Worth – what he has done for basketball in Texas in a state known for Friday night lights. This man literally was the show and we will miss coach Hughes.”

AJ Jones, president of Dunbar alumni association

“There’s a lot of people in here that have looked up to coach Hughes, walked in coach Hughes shoes and try to do the things that coach Hughes led us to do. … Good coaches impact the game. Great coaches impact lives.”

Bob Ray Sanders, National Association of Black Journalists hall of fame member and Pulitzer Prize nominee

“We love Robert Hughes. Everyone in Fort Worth and in the district didn’t. I’m sorry, I have to tell the truth. There was jealousy. There was envy. There were people that were so called spies working to see what time these players were practicing in the morning and reporting it to the UIL.”

“Growing up at I.M. Terrell, we couldn’t stand Dunbar. But we loved Robert Hughes.”

Kenneth Lyons, UNT all-time leading scorer

“Coach Hughes brought exposure to the Fort Worth ISD. Coach Hughes didn’t just impact the Dunbar Wildcats. He impacted the entirety of Fort Worth, Texas.”