Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaddin alerted students and faculty on March 17 of the passing of former interim president Dr. Eugene M. Hughes. Hughes earned degrees in mathematics, including a Bachelor of Science from Chadron State College in Nebraska, a Master of Science from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. While at Chadron, he became a National Science Foundation fellow.  Hughes came out of retirement after 42 years in higher education to become Eastern Kentucky Univeristyâs interim president from July to September 2001 until a permanent president was found. According to McFaddin, Hughes brought to EKU not only a fresh face with new ideas but also an impressive resume. He was president of Northern Arizona University (1979-1993) and Wichita State University (1993-1999) before retiring as president emeritus, both of which faced the same kind of budget cutbacks that Eastern was facing.