Today in Wheeling History: June 8--Wright Hugus, Sr., a first lieutenant in Headquarters Company of the U.S. Army's 83rd Infantry Division, sailed for France to serve overseas during World War I, before going on to become a famous lawyer, legislator and civic leader in Wheeling after the war (1918).
Wright Hugus, Sr. (1890-1958) was a prominent lawyer and legislator from Wheeling, West Virginia. He was born on November 8, 1890, in Ohio County, West Virginia, in an area now known as Elmwood Place near Wheeling. Hugus was the son of Judge Thomas J. Hugus and Annie V. (Wright) Hugus. He attended public schools in Ohio County, graduating from Wheeling High School in 1909. Hugus then attended Dartmouth College, graduating with an A.B. in 1913, and later Harvard Law School, receiving his LL.B. in 1916.
He served in World War I, being commissioned as a first lieutenant in August 1917. Hugus attended the French School for Trench Warfare and on June 8, 1918, he sailed for France with Headquarters Company of the 83rd Division. He served in France from June 1918 to September 1919, attaining the rank of Major in the Adjutant General's Department. After the war, in 1925 Hugus co-founded the prominent Wheeling law firm of Schmidt, Hugus, and Laas along with Carl O. Schmidt and Albert W. Laas. Their offices were initially located in the Central Union Building in downtown Wheeling. In 1982, the firm moved to the Hawley Building, and then to the Maxwell Centre in 1997. The firm, now called Schrader Companion Duff & Law, relocated to its present offices at 418 Main Street in Wheeling in 2018.
Hugus was actively involved in Republican politics, serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1921, 1943, and 1945, and the State Senate from 1923 to 1930. He served as President of the West Virginia Bar Association in 1935-1936 and President of the West Virginia State Bar in 1951-1952. Hugus maintained close connections to educational institutions like Dartmouth and West Virginia University, where he was on the Board of Governors from 1937 to 1941.
In his later years, Hugus resided in the Forest Hills area of Wheeling. He passed away suddenly on April 23, 1958, at his Forest Hills home, leaving behind his wife Martha (Majesky) Hugus, whom he married in 1927, a son and daughter, and several grandchildren. Hugus was remembered as a distinguished Wheeling attorney and dedicated public servant.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/SiTSy) (https://shorturl.at/RVD7N) (https://shorturl.at/tBXcL) (https://shorturl.at/i3N8o) (https://shorturl.at/Kook1) (https://shorturl.at/auCLv) (https://shorturl.at/sRpNb)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register, Google Maps
Wright Hugus, Sr. (1890-1958) was a prominent lawyer and legislator from Wheeling, West Virginia. He was born on November 8, 1890, in Ohio County, West Virginia, in an area now known as Elmwood Place near Wheeling. Hugus was the son of Judge Thomas J. Hugus and Annie V. (Wright) Hugus. He attended public schools in Ohio County, graduating from Wheeling High School in 1909. Hugus then attended Dartmouth College, graduating with an A.B. in 1913, and later Harvard Law School, receiving his LL.B. in 1916.
He served in World War I, being commissioned as a first lieutenant in August 1917. Hugus attended the French School for Trench Warfare and on June 8, 1918, he sailed for France with Headquarters Company of the 83rd Division. He served in France from June 1918 to September 1919, attaining the rank of Major in the Adjutant General's Department. After the war, in 1925 Hugus co-founded the prominent Wheeling law firm of Schmidt, Hugus, and Laas along with Carl O. Schmidt and Albert W. Laas. Their offices were initially located in the Central Union Building in downtown Wheeling. In 1982, the firm moved to the Hawley Building, and then to the Maxwell Centre in 1997. The firm, now called Schrader Companion Duff & Law, relocated to its present offices at 418 Main Street in Wheeling in 2018.
Hugus was actively involved in Republican politics, serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1921, 1943, and 1945, and the State Senate from 1923 to 1930. He served as President of the West Virginia Bar Association in 1935-1936 and President of the West Virginia State Bar in 1951-1952. Hugus maintained close connections to educational institutions like Dartmouth and West Virginia University, where he was on the Board of Governors from 1937 to 1941.
In his later years, Hugus resided in the Forest Hills area of Wheeling. He passed away suddenly on April 23, 1958, at his Forest Hills home, leaving behind his wife Martha (Majesky) Hugus, whom he married in 1927, a son and daughter, and several grandchildren. Hugus was remembered as a distinguished Wheeling attorney and dedicated public servant.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/SiTSy) (https://shorturl.at/RVD7N) (https://shorturl.at/tBXcL) (https://shorturl.at/i3N8o) (https://shorturl.at/Kook1) (https://shorturl.at/auCLv) (https://shorturl.at/sRpNb)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling News-Register, Google Maps
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