>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Charley Hughes

Charley Hughes, the shop’s late owner, made sure of it.

“Kids never left his store without what they wanted even if they didn’t have enough money,’’ said Imbler School District Superintendent Doug Hislop.

If a boy or girl wanted a $30 pair of shoes but had only $15 — no problem. Hughes sold the shoes and then assigned the child a meaningful job like sweeping his store or stacking wood to make up the $15 difference.

When children purchased bubblegum-baseball card packs Hughes asked to see them. Hughes then bought back several of the player cards, leaving the youths with more money than they came in with.

Hughes, a man who brightened the lives of more children than there are Little League games played here each summer, died March 23 at Sunbridge Retirement home in Meridian, Idaho. Hughes, 63, had suffered a stroke about 1 1/2 years ago.

He operated Charley’s Sports in La Grande for 10 years from 1978 to 1988. He then taught in the Imbler School District for 16 years before retiring due to health problems.

Sandy Mills, an Imbler fourth grade teacher, is among those who worked with Hughes. She said Hughes was adept at picking out students who needed a boost.

“He then took the time to make them feel like the most special people in the world,’’ Mills said.

Hughes was bothered by a number of health issues late in his teaching career, including back and neck problems. Still he never shared his pain or complained about his fate. He instead maintained a contagious optimism. A spirit, Mills said, which was revealed by something he told people almost every day: “I think today is going to be the best day of my life.’’

This attitude carried over to the classroom and how he viewed his students, even the difficult ones.

“He never complained to me about a kid,’’ Hislop said. “He wanted to know what he could do to help kids. He was always looking for ideas to make things better for kids.’’

Hughes was a workhorse, spending so much time at school that friends sometimes had to pry him away.

“He was the last teacher to go home every night,’’ Hislop said.

Ray Harmon of Summerville, a retired Imbler teacher, said Hughes expected a lot from his students and this brought out the best in them. He frequently would keep a student or two after school, but never in a manner that made it seem like he was disciplining them. It was always clear that he believed it was important that the boy or girl finish a project or assignment for their own good.

Harmon said students were motivated to do well because they wanted to please the popular teacher, one who taught all grade levels during his 16 years at Imbler.

Hughes lived with Harmon’s family for two years later in his life. He was a man of strong faith. This was evident on a summer day when Harmon and Hughes waded into the Snake River. Weather conditions and the water temperature were ideal.

“This has got to be the best,’’ Hughes said.

Then he paused and corrected himself.

“Oh, I know something that is better than this. Heaven is better than this.’’

Hughes, who was born in Nampa, Idaho, came to

La Grande in the early 1960s to attend EOU and play football for the Mountaineers. Upon graduation, Hughes taught school in Meridian, Idaho, before returning to La Grande to open Charley’s Sports. He was involved in youth athletic programs such as Little League for much of his time in the Grande Ronde Valley.

A service for Hughes was held Saturday at Faith Community Bible Church in Boise.

“He was an incredibly caring person,’’ Mills said. “The number of lives he touched through teaching and coaching was just phenomenal.’’