Charles Hughes

Charles “Charlie” Hughes, 74, died Monday evening following an extended illness. Charlie was born in Marion on Feb. 11, 1940, and spent all of his adult life in Anderson. His early employment took place at the family-owned Hoosier Market grocery store in Anderson. Charlie retired from Delco-Remy in 2006 after more than 40 years of service.

In 1962 Charlie began organizing and coaching amateur basketball teams in Anderson, quickly becoming a central figure in the area’s dynamic basketball scene. A longtime volunteer with AAU, he rose to become Indiana AAU Boys Basketball Chairman and organized countless basketball tournaments for boys and girls throughout central Indiana. He ended his coaching involvement in 1977 to focus on organizing and promoting area tournaments, retiring with a win record of 319-84.

In 1974 Charlie created the Sertoma Classic at the Anderson Wigwam, featuring his Anderson ALAC team against the Madison County high school boys all stars. The tournament immediately became a landmark basketball happening at the Wigwam and raised money for Madison County Special Olympics, running well into the mid-1990s.

Charlie was honored by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association in April 2014 with the Virgil Sweet Award recognizing his lifelong dedication to area basketball. One of his most enduring accomplishments is the high school boys basketball shootout played in Indianapolis each June that features the defending Indiana 4A high school championship team. Charlie developed the tournament 10 years ago and this past June was honored when the tournament was officially renamed the “Charlie Hughes High School Shootout.”

Charlie was blessed with a large and loving family and is survived by his wife Catherine Hughes of Anderson; mother Elsie (Schrope) Hughes of Indianapolis; daughters Debra Hughes of Noblesville, Sherry Argabright of Indianapolis, Jill Fella (husband, Marc) of Fishers, April Williams (husband, Jimmy) of Jacksonville, FL., son Rodney Hughes of San Francisco, and step-sons Greg Hallenbeck (wife Kristen) of Anderson and Marcus Hallenbeck of Indianapolis. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Amanda Argabright of Pittsburgh, Chad Argabright of Faith, S.D., Courtney and William Fella of Fishers, and Mason Hallenbeck of Anderson. Several brothers and sisters survive including sisters Joan Pfrommer (husband, Charles) of Knoxville, Tenn., Susan Long (husband, George) of Noblesville, Peggy Schmidt (husband, David) of Plano, Texas; brothers John Hughes (wife, Connie) of Valparaiso, Ind., David Hughes (wife, Ellen) of Indianapolis, and Roger Hughes (wife, Virginia) of Carol Stream, Ill. Charlie is also survived by several nieces and nephews as well as several aunts and uncles.

Charlie was preceded in death by his father, George Hughes.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday (Jan. 2) at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 3) at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charlie Hughes Basketball Scholarship Fund.