Hughes, Hall of Fame coach from the ‘70s, dies peacefully at Polson home

Columbia Falls Hall of Fame coach Harold Hughes died peacefully on Feb. 21 in Polson.

He was 85.

Steve Kracher, who played under Hughes when the Wildcats went to the state championship in 1970, had fond memories of his former coach, who was a disciplinarian but also had a lighter side.

“He was Vince Lombardi reincarnated,” Kracher said. “He was extremely focused. Way ahead of his game.”

While football teams today have a slew of coaches and a host of plays, often taped to players’ wrists, Hughes had about five plays in the book. Four of them were runs out of the “T” formation. 

One was a pass.

But they all worked incredibly well.

Kracher recalled that Hughes would give every player an individual position and that’s what they played. It built team unity and a sense of purpose amongst the players.

“He believed that teams were better when everyone was involved and every player had a stake,” Kracher said. “Those teams were very close.”

The Wildcats fell short in that 1970 championship game against Havre, played on a Friday night at home in the dense fog.

All told Hughes coached in Columbia Falls for 11 seasons, with a record of 68-24. The Wildcats won divisional championships in ‘70, ‘71, ‘73, ‘75, and ‘76 and were divisional runner-s up in ‘77.

Back then there were no extended playoffs like there are today. If a team didn’t win the division, they didn’t get to the playoffs.

Some seasons ended brutally. In 1971, for example, the Cats were knocked out of the divisional title by Anaconda Central, who ran a double reverse on a two-point conversion to beat the Cats, 8-7, Hughes recalled in a 2016 interview.

According to his obituary, Hughes was born into the Irish Catholic family of Lawrence and Pauline (O’Leary) Hughes July 26, 1939, in Benson, Minnesota He was the third eldest of five children. The Hughes family moved to Williston, North Dakota, when Hughes was eight years old. No strangers to hard work or hard times, the Hughes family spent a few North Dakota winters in a house without indoor plumbing. He played football, basketball and baseball during his youth and at Williston High School. After serving in the Army, he attended and played football at North Dakota State University.

He first built a football program in Fairview and then Columbia Falls. Hughes was also instrumental in establishing a state-of-the-art weight room during his time in Columbia Falls.

He was also known for his recruiting efforts in the hallways of the school. Bill Brunett recalled Hughes coming up to him and telling him he was going to join the wrestling team. Brunett said before that, he had no intention of wrestling.

“You need to stay in shape,” Hughes told him.

Brunett went on to have a good season and ended up wrestling two years for the University of Montana Grizzlies.

Kracher was a hall of fame running back under Hughes, but also was an assistant coach with Hughes after college.

“I saw a totally different side,” Kracher said. He was funny and easy to work with, Kracher recalled.

“But when he was with the football team, he was all business,” Kracher said.

In 1980, Hughes and his family transitioned full-time into cattle ranching in Polson. Undeterred by operating loans with 19% interest rates, they set out to build a top notch registered red angus cattle herd, building a successful business over the next 45 years.

Hughes also came back for a few reunions with former teammates and coaches in Columbia Falls.

Hughes was preceded in death by his daughter Teri Hughes, his parents Lawrence and Pauline Hughes, and his brother Ed Hughes.

 He is survived by his wife Patricia, his sister JoAnn Emery (deceased husband Eugene), his brother Richard Hughes (deceased wife Virginia), his brother Stephen Hughes and his wife Sandra. He is also survived by his two other children, Vince and his wife Michelle; Chris and his wife Diana. He also has 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The Rosary will be recited on Sunday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at The Lake Funeral Home in Polson. The Funeral Mass will be on Monday, March 3, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, burial will follow the mass at Lakeview Cemetery.

His full obituary is at: www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com/obituaries/harold-hughes