Dean Hughson passed away on July 7th from pneumonia in Pueblo Viejo, in Veracruz State, Mexico at the age of 74. Dean was a 43-year veteran of the egg products segment of the industry and a pioneer in aspects of processing and marketing of liquid and dried presentations. His extensive experience included line management, sales and travel as a consultant.
He earned his baccalaureate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and studied for a master’s degree at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. After serving as a social worker he was invited to join Waldbaum Eggs in 1979 and was mentored by Dan Gardner. When this company was sold to Michael Foods, revenue had increased six-fold over ten years largely due to his efforts and initiative. Subsequently, Dean worked with producers including Papetti, Hennigsens and Rembrandt. He cultivated extensive and close contacts with processors in Canada, Mexico and Japan. On his semi-retirement he settled in Fountain Hills, Arizona with Yoly his wife of 34 years, but enjoyed extended periods in his alternate home in Veracruz.
As industry stalwarts faded from the production scene, Dean offered a history of U.S. egg processing in a 2000 book entitled It all began with an egg, with the assistance of Ken Klippen as co-author. This publication included a foreword by Arthur Papetti and chapters were devoted to prominent personalities including Goody Sonstegard and Vic Hennigsen and their contributions.
Dean was always willing to share his extensive knowledge with colleagues and those entering the industry as an acknowledged “go to” source. A mutual friend recounted his frequent phone calls introduced with a familiar “so what’s new?” For those in the products sector Dean was a constant source of information and data, readily shared with an additional guidance and interpretation. He was a consummate gentleman with a deep-seated love for the egg industry. He promoted consumption through his contributions to the International Egg Commission and domestic associations. He was instrumental as an independent agent in balancing the supply and demand for products. Dean promoted exports during overproduction and more recently assisted by locating exporters to compensate for HPAI depopulation. Despite his loss of mobility in later years he persevered in his activities and with determination continued to participate in meetings. More recently he maintained contacts with zoom communication.
He is mourned by his children, Rachel, Elizabeth and Joshua by his first wife, Susan, and his five grandchildren. EGG-NEWS extends condolences to his entire family and to his widow, Yoly.
He will be sadly missed.